Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: State of Nebraska SNAP Demonstration Project

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This notice invites the public to comment on the State of Nebraska's proposed demonstration project under section 17(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. The Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) will take appropriate action as necessary in response to comments, including authorizing or refusing to authorize the proposed project.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 190 (Friday, October 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 190 (Friday, October 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62687-62688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20211]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Administration


Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: State of Nebraska SNAP 
Demonstration Project

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Administration, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture.

[[Page 62688]]


ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice invites the public to comment on the State of 
Nebraska's proposed demonstration project under section 17(b) of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. The Food and Nutrition Administration 
(FNA) will take appropriate action as necessary in response to 
comments, including authorizing or refusing to authorize the proposed 
project.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 2, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice may be submitted to FNA by one of 
the following methods:

--Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments.
--Website: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
--All written comments submitted in response to this notice will be 
included in the record and will be made available to the public. Please 
be advised that the substance of the comments and the identity of the 
individuals or entities submitting the comments will be subject to 
public disclosure. FNA will make the written comments publicly 
available on the internet via <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shiela Corley, Acting FNA 
Administrator, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2477690a626a0a767469606c750973616664515740450a434b52"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d3e20432b23433f3d2029253c403a282f2d181e090c430a021b">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> with subject line of ``NE 
SNAP Demonstration Project''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 17(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 2026(b), authorizes FNA to approve demonstration 
projects to test changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program (SNAP) that may increase programmatic efficiency and improve 
the delivery of SNAP benefits to raise levels of nutrition among 
eligible households. If approved, this proposed demonstration project 
would be implemented by the State, and FNA would carefully review the 
results of the project based on the State's evaluation data. All 
relevant documents, including the State's demonstration project 
request, can be found in the supporting document section. Additionally, 
to support implementation and ensure transparency, FNA created a 
central web page on May 21, 2025, to post State agencies' project 
requests and approvals and provide exact implementation timelines. That 
web page is accessible at the following address: <a href="https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction">https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction</a>.

Discussion of Demonstration Project

State of Nebraska Demonstration Project Request

    Following the vacatur of Nebraska's demonstration project and four 
others in Aragon v. Rollins, No. 26-0861 (D.D.C. June 22, 2026), the 
State of Nebraska submitted a new request to conduct a demonstration 
project to amend the SNAP definition of food for purchase to exclude 
``soda, soft drinks, and energy drinks'' with a proposed implementation 
date of December 1, 2026. In addition, the State requested to also 
exclude ``candy'' with a proposed implementation date of March 1, 2027. 
The State formally requested to conduct this project on September 1, 
2026. The State's project request can be found in the supporting 
document section and on the FNA website on the following page: <a href="https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction/nebraska">https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction/nebraska</a>.
    Request for Public Comments: FNA is considering whether to approve 
Nebraska's proposed demonstration project. Although not required by 
statute, interested parties are invited to submit written comments 
regarding the State of Nebraska's proposed demonstration project. FNA 
is particularly interested in comments regarding the state's proposed 
plan for implementation and operation of the demonstration project. FNA 
will consider any comments submitted by November 2, 2026 and take 
appropriate action, including authorizing or refusing to authorize the 
project. In light of the district court's decision in Aragon, FNA will 
issue a separate Federal Register notice authorizing or refusing to 
authorize the project; although Nebraska has requested a December 1st 
implementation date, any notice authorizing the project would issue at 
least ten days before the project's implementation date. Further 
information related to the implementation of the demonstration project 
is included on the FNA website (<a href="https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction">https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction</a>) and the State's website (<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Healthy-Choices-Waiver.aspx">https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Healthy-Choices-Waiver.aspx</a>).

Shiela Corley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Administration, USDA.
[FR Doc. 2026-20211 Filed 10-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P


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