DENVER ~ Denver, Colorado - On May 13, 2025, the state of Colorado took a significant step towards promoting healthier food consumption and maximizing the buying power of benefits for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. The state submitted waiver requests to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and today, a portion of the waiver was approved.

The approved waiver exempts soda and sugary beverages from SNAP benefits, with the aim of reducing obesity rates, diabetes, and tooth decay among Coloradans. Governor Jared Polis expressed his satisfaction with this development, stating that it is a big step towards improving the health of Coloradans and reducing obesity rates in the state.

Colorado has been recognized as one of the healthiest states in the nation, with the lowest obesity rate. However, Governor Polis believes that even this rate is still too high and endangers the lives of many Coloradans. He hopes that this waiver will help to ensure that more SNAP participants have access to healthy foods.

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The waiver also aims to reduce food deserts in Colorado by influencing local grocers' stocking decisions. With soda and sugary beverages no longer eligible for SNAP benefits, it is expected that shelf space for these products will decrease while other nutritional food products eligible for SNAP will increase.

Michelle Barnes, Executive Director of Colorado's Department of Human Services (CDHS), expressed her pride in Colorado's efforts to prioritize nutrition through this waiver. She emphasized that SNAP is a vital program that serves as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans.

The approved waiver focuses on modifying foods eligible for SNAP to promote healthy eating habits among participants. It specifically targets beverage purchases by limiting them to those that contribute to nutrition, such as milk-based drinks and 100% juice drinks. Sugary beverages with at least 5 grams of sweetener per 12 ounces are now excluded from SNAP-eligible drinks. However, this waiver does not restrict the purchase of any milk-based drinks or baby formula.

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Colorado is still awaiting approval for two additional waiver provisions. One would allow SNAP participants to purchase a full range of hot prepared foods from grocery stores, including rotisserie chickens. The other would streamline the process for farmers market vendors to accept SNAP payments, expanding the range of locally produced food products available to SNAP recipients.

In addition to these waivers, Governor Polis signed SB25-169 in May, which directs the Colorado Department of Human Services to submit an application to USDA seeking approval for SNAP recipients to use their benefits at participating restaurants. This is especially beneficial for households with barriers to preparing food.

Overall, Colorado's efforts towards promoting healthier food consumption and maximizing the buying power of SNAP benefits are commendable. With the approval of this waiver and the potential approval of two more, it is clear that the state is committed to improving access to healthy and nutritious foods for Coloradans in need.

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