[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6322679,"mediaKeyId","2347008-82c00aa6e4cfe051da6b35e02f54c17c","parentId",2347008,"title","Health subcommittee advances bill to bar candy and soft drinks on SNAP; debate focuses on definitions and waiver process","audioSeconds",1982,"startMs",986000,"endMs",2968000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347008-82c00aa6e4cfe051da6b35e02f54c17c&start=986&end=2968","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347008-82c00aa6e4cfe051da6b35e02f54c17c/thumbnail_986000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322679/Tennessee/Health-subcommittee-advances-bill-to-bar-candy-and-soft-drinks-on-SNAP-debate-focuses-on-definitions-and-waiver-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322679-6b177ce4314bdd1ed73a405e0f3553ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146739&Signature=o4J6sP9D7XtebonStV5S1-D~SoGSiJGRLThzQePc5DCXUkNcevBPeFTOW57Vuj26H3krf8GAdBsWuwUsJxajda-T5rpoYlpkg8mQrrlxKdZ0ExaTE~jHuhLIY1V8yqG72xF58n1LoUlF~q6AiEZEgBZkNna-o6Hd7VL7R1tsiFJwh7UGgHfHmCCdH5z3BgO9rQ5MRpQR59waqZNyZqNLyoTiAhfCh5ooy9PoZjcPhNJZS4YKH5NwYz5~nmgJziXjVjKLajBtSIctev3hixKT6ohafj1mVz7gBhiQ5gZws9jGJcwgKjh2NR7u83TllmwHvZjkfJ5Wd9utMQ12wGc78g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","NASHVILLE — The House Health Subcommittee on Feb. 19 advanced House Bill 12 36, a proposal by Speaker Zachary that would direct the Tennessee Department of Human Services to request a federal waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. The motion to move the bill to the full Health Committee passed 7-2.

Supporters said the restriction is meant to align SNAP with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and to push beneficiaries toward healthier purchases. \"The goal of this legislation is to provide healthier outcomes and options for those who are on the SNAP program by prohibiting the purchase of soft drinks and candy through the SNAP program,\" Speaker Zachary said, adding the bill would require the department to implement point-of-sale controls and deliver reports.

The bill drew extensive questions from committee members over definitions, evidence and the waiver process. Representative Mitchell argued against what he described as government control of individual meal choices, saying, \"I'm just not gonna be for censorship of people's meal plan.\" Representative McKenzie pressed the sponsor for the source of the statistic that \"kids on SNAP consume 43% more sugary drinks than those not on SNAP,\" and the sponsor said the figure came from End Chronic Disease, a nonprofit. McKenzie said she would seek corroboration from the Department of Human Services before the bill proceeds.

Industry testimony came from Greg Adkins, president and CEO of the Beverage Association of Tennessee, who told the committee the association \"strongly opposes the bill as it clearly discriminates against our products.\" Adkins said the industry has expanded low- or zero-sugar options and pointed to voluntary labeling and portion-size changes. He disputed the sponsor's consumption figures and said federal SNAP guidance does not define \"soft drinks\" or \"candy\" in the way the bill uses the terms. \"There is no definition of soda, and or candy under the USDA or SNAP program,\" he said, citing his review of the fiscal note and outside counsel.

Committee members also highlighted implementation hurdles: several speakers noted that SNAP is a federal program, that any change would require federal approval of a state waiver and that the USDA has in past administrations resisted limiting beneficiary choices. The sponsor replied the legislation directs state DHS to work with federal agencies to define the terms and apply for a waiver within six months of the bill’s approval.

The subcommittee recorded 7 ayes and 2 nays on the motion to advance the bill. The outcome means the measure will be considered by the full House Health Committee; any change would also be dependent on federal waiver approval and on definitions agreed with federal agencies.

Ending: Committee members said they expect further data and legal detail as the bill moves forward. Representative McKenzie requested more precise sourcing on consumption statistics and waiver-approval rates; the sponsor said the administration will coordinate with federal partners on definitions and reporting if the bill advances.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health Subcommittee\tFeb 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Health Subcommittee on Feb. 19 advanced House Bill 12 36, directing state human services to seek a federal waiver to bar the purchase of candy and soft drinks with SNAP benefits; the measure passed the panel 7-2.","taxTitle","Health, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",35345,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6322674,"Health subcommittee advances wide slate of bills on school safety, pharmacy authority, adult services and genomic protections",1739,2966000,4705000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347008-82c00aa6e4cfe051da6b35e02f54c17c&start=2966&end=4705","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347008-82c00aa6e4cfe051da6b35e02f54c17c/thumbnail_2966000.jpg","/articles/6322674/Tennessee/Health-subcommittee-advances-wide-slate-of-bills-on-school-safety-pharmacy-authority-adult-services-and-genomic-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322674-254f89d5697e7507567875214901fba1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146739&Signature=kjHmiFsC5dGOx5traZ8iz7~vB8i11dUze-duZTIbSqOZzkoQrYkcpNIKMkRhazcmVUhhE4PMR09O4n0QkrwUAfT1u83QDgx7OwGPD0t3uUWw4hCwSh-8rxq07~qx30vs947-3QROWL~N2fS9~yBuPcfx5jgbV2n8F9raof0gqPDiZLLGvBvViuEYQeuxwmvJVPbwF9mA~XaiOLuRSU54-yHZ0sjGCD3bGdIX0Te8GVk4K4SwEbVzkE0owDvlitslH8uZNeI0tJyn7CwbIEoB6nYXvgfG2kfy-pzjDcAklWJ4bwYlDX3zldDcFo4kPipMr38Wgfgn7pSeEd6WA2re5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","NASHVILLE — The House Health Subcommittee on Feb. 19 advanced a series of health-related bills to the full House Health Committee, approving most measures unanimously. The panel took up a wide-ranging agenda that included school safety, first-responder care in schools, pharmacy authority and measures touching genomics and organ-harvesting prohibitions.

The committee advanced the following bills and resolutions (votes and short descriptions below):

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 106 (amendment added, drafting code 003599): Administration bill clarifying childcare code to create exemptions for gym-based child drop-off, professional sports teams and YMCAs; moved to Health Full Committee, 9-0.

- House Bill 760: Allows schools to maintain an emergency stock of inhalers for students who are undiagnosed or forget an inhaler; sponsor said \"approximately 10 percent of children suffer from asthma.\" Moved to Health Full Committee, 9-0.

- House Bill 496: Raises the disability-onset age for ABLE accounts from 26 to 46 to keep Tennessee aligned with federal law; moved to Health Full Committee, 9-0.

- House Joint Resolution 120: Urges the Department of Health to implement voluntary reporting for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease to improve epidemiology and grant competitiveness; moved to Health Full Committee, 9-0.

- House Bill 693: Codifies prior expansion that allowed pharmacists to prescribe for certain conditions and clarifies that pharmacists may schedule consultations and collect fees when prescribing hormonal contraception; moved to Health Full Committee, 9-0.

- House Bill 157: Changes statutory terminology from \"adult day care\" to \"adult day services\" to reflect contemporary practice; moved to Health Full Committee, 9-0.

- House Bill 62: Authorizes athletic trainers to perform dry needling under specified training and board oversight; sponsors and provider groups negotiated language setting training standards and board authority. The amendment lists continuing-education and training requirements and authorizes the board to add conditions. The bill moved to Health Full, 8-1 (one nay).

- House Bill 386: Extends the safe-haven newborn possession window from 14 days to 45 days, aligning Tennessee with several other states; moved to Health Full Committee, 9-0.

- House Bill 657: Allows health-care providers who complete peer-assistance treatment programs to petition licensing boards to remove public disciplinary information after a statutory period (petition available after 10 years as written); moved to Health Full Committee, 9-0.

- House Bill 192: Expands \"Right to Try\" concepts to allow individualized investigational treatments, including some targeted gene therapies, under a parallel process; moved to Health Full Committee, 9-0.

- House Bill 395 (amended): Tennessee Genomic Security and Forced Organ Harvesting Act, addressing genomic data protections and prohibiting state participation in forcible organ harvesting linked to foreign adversaries; moved to Health Full Committee, 9-0.

Rolled: House Bill 702 was rolled for two weeks and not considered.

Notable discussion

Several bills drew minimal debate and passed unanimously. Two items prompted more extended questions: HB62 on dry needling and HB657 on peer-assistance record removal. On HB62, Representative Williams cautioned about training and clinical complexity: \"Dry needling is a complex and very thorough process ... How comfortable are you knowing that a physical therapist goes to school for a considerably longer period than an athletic trainer would but they would still have the proficiency in training in order to do this?\" The sponsor and amendment language emphasized training requirements and authorized the relevant board to set further conditions.

On HB657, members discussed whether a 10-year time period before a petition is eligible is appropriate; the sponsor said the length was under active consideration and acknowledged workforce shortages and the need to balance public safety with provider recovery.

Ending: All advanced bills will be considered by the full House Health Committee next week; sponsors and committee members asked for follow-up details (training standards, fiscal notes and federal coordination where applicable).","On Feb. 19, 2019, the House Health Subcommittee advanced a bundle of bills to the full Health Committee, mostly by unanimous votes. Items included measures to allow schools to stock emergency inhalers, expand pharmacists' ability to provide care and adjust eligibility and naming conventions for adult day services and ABLE accounts; the panel also","actionData","errors"]

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Health subcommittee advances bill to bar candy and soft drinks on SNAP; debate focuses on definitions and waiver process

Health subcommittee advances wide slate of bills on school safety, pharmacy authority, adult services and genomic protections