Federal Register #FNA20260307

Public Comment Request: North Dakota SNAP Demonstration Project Food Restrictions

This opportunity concerns a policy demonstration project by the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, seeking public input on North Dakota's proposed changes to SNAP food eligibility. - Government Buyer: - Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA), U.S. Department of Agriculture - State of North Dakota as implementing agency - Project Overview: - North Dakota requests to amend SNAP food eligibility to exclude soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy - The demonstration project aims to test the impact of these exclusions - Timeline: - Initial request submitted, revised, and further clarified to specify restricted items - Unique Requirements: - Exclusion of specific food and beverage categories from SNAP purchases - Public comments are solicited to inform implementation and evaluation - OEMs and Vendors: - No OEMs or commercial vendors involved; this is a policy initiative, not a procurement of goods or services - Evaluation: - FNA will review project results based on North Dakota's evaluation data

Description

This notice invites the public to comment on the State of North Dakota's demonstration project authorized under section 17(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 2026(b). The project aims to amend the SNAP definition of food for purchase to exclude soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy. The State formally requested to conduct this project on October 24, 2025, with a revised request on November 3, 2025, and a modification on February 27, 2026, to further explain the restricted items. The implementation date requested is September 1, 2026. The Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) will review comments and take appropriate action.

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