Gov. Mike DeWine is pursuing a federal waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that would allow Ohio to ban the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for purchasing certain sugary beverages.

In June 2025, DeWine announced the formation of a working group tasked with developing recommendations for the proposed waiver. According to the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, the group focused on beverages deemed to have “minimal nutritional value and contributing to health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension.” Any such restriction requires USDA approval.

The working group submitted its final report to the governor in late September. Ohio’s official waiver request must be submitted to the USDA no later than Tues., Oct. 28, 2025.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association opposed the ban in the state operating budget and submitted comments to the group that any ban on sugar-sweetened beverages include exemptions for infant formulas, medical foods, and foods for special dietary use — vital for disease management, health maintenance and survival for vulnerable populations.

If approved, Ohio would become the 13th state to implement such a restriction, joining Arkansas; Colorado; Florida; Idaho; Indiana; Iowa; Louisiana; Nebraska; Oklahoma; Texas; Utah; and West Virginia. 10/16/25