• WASHINGTON
State-by-State SNAP Policies Complicate Compliance
Stephanie Johnson, senior vice president and head of government affairs for the National Grocers Association, provided attendees with an update on the rapidly changing landscape surrounding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program restrictions and what they mean for retailers nationwide.
Johnson said NGA has opposed SNAP restrictions for decades because of the operational challenges they create, noting the association “always knew they would be really complicated to implement because we do food supply chain all the time.” She explained that while previous efforts to restrict SNAP purchases stalled at the federal level, the current administration shifted the effort to the states through waiver requests. More than 20 states have since pursued or received approval for restrictions, creating a patchwork of policies that retailers must navigate.
She cautioned that allowing states to determine which products qualify creates an ever-changing policy landscape because, as she noted, “whoever’s in power is going to want to change this.” Johnson also shared recent legal developments surrounding several state waivers, saying additional lawsuits and appeals are likely as retailers continue adapting to evolving requirements.
Defining Eligible Products Remains Difficult
Johnson said one of retailers’ biggest hurdles is determining exactly which products qualify under each state’s rules.
“Everyone thinks they know what a sugar-sweetened beverage is,” she said, before explaining that product definitions and exemptions vary widely from state to state. She added that retailers quickly encounter difficult questions over products that fall into gray areas, making implementation far more complicated than many expect.
Johnson said inconsistent definitions create confusion for retailers and customers alike, asking, “What’s a candy? What’s not?” She explained that uncertainty at checkout can slow transactions, frustrate shoppers and create additional challenges for frontline employees.
Audience Questions Focus on Military Retailers
During the audience question-and-answer session, attendees asked how military retailers operating nationwide should comply with differing state requirements. Johnson explained that in-store purchases follow the rules of the state where the store is located, while certain online SNAP transactions are governed by the state that issued the customer’s SNAP benefits card. She also encouraged attendees to use NGA’s online SNAP tracker, which provides state-by-state guidance, and welcomed the opportunity to support future ALA educational efforts as regulations continue to evolve.
ALA members can access Stephanie Johnson‘s full video presentation at https://alanational.org/members/2026-ala-congressional-caucus/.
