Iowa Among 18 States Limiting SNAP Benefits in 2026

Back in March, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) signed a waiver that would limit the state of Iowa's SNAP benefits. That waiver was swiftly approved by the USDA, and would allow lawmakers to approve SNAP purchases within a list of foods that are none-taxable under state law.

Now, that waiver is set to go into effect in 2026. Iowa is one of 18 states that will ban the use of SNAP benefits to buy certain sugary foods and drinks.

READ MORE: USDA Approves Iowa Waiver to Limit Snap Benefits Purchases

States Limiting SNAP Benefits in 2026:

In addition to Iowa, 17 states are prohibiting the use of SNAP benefits for a handful of new items, per WKYT:

• Texas
• Oklahoma
• Louisiana
• Colorado
• Florida
• West Virginia
• Arkansas
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Nebraska
• Utah
• Hawaii
• Missouri
• North Dakota
• South Carolina
• Virginia
• Tennessee

The restrictions will impact roughly 14 million people across those 18 states.

What Items Will Be Restricted from SNAP in These States?:

The list of items no longer approved is long, and includes everything from soda to chewing gum. The full list can be found below and on the Iowa.gov website:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Candy, candy-coated items, and candy products, including gum
• Certain beverages, including those with 50% or less fruit or vegetable juice
• Cosmetics
• Dietary supplements
• Chewing gum
• Health aids
• Household aids
• Paper products
• Pet foods and supplies
• Soaps and detergents
• Tobacco products
• Toiletry articles
• Tonics
• Vitamins and minerals

READ MORE: Another Iowa Grocery Store Launches Program to Provide Food for Families

Find out more about SNAP benefits in Iowa being limited in 2026 on WKYT's website.