Wisconsin Assembly Bill 180, introduced in 2025 by Representative Scott Allen and 20 co-sponsors (mostly Republicans), requires the Department of Health Services to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a waiver to ban buying candy and soft drinks with FoodShare benefits (Wisconsin's SNAP program). Candy and soft drinks are defined by state tax law. If approved, DHS must enforce the ban. If denied, DHS has to resubmit the request every year until it's granted. The goal is to encourage healthier food choices for low-income families using food assistance.
The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Movement, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., supports this bill as a Pro-MAHA initiative because it curbs sugary junk food in government assistance programs, aligning with MAHA's fight against diet-driven health crises like obesity and diabetes. By blocking candy and soda purchases with FoodShare, the bill promotes real nutrition for vulnerable families, echoing Kennedy's call to reform food systems and prioritize whole foods over addictive processed items. It empowers Wisconsin to lead on healthier public aid, reducing long-term health costs and building stronger communities.