Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: State of South Carolina SNAP Demonstration Project

Issuing agencies

Abstract

On September 15, 2026, the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) posted Federal Register Number 2026-18896, which invited public comment on the State of South Carolina's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) demonstration project authorized under section 17(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. The comment period closed October 15, 2026. FNA has considered all comments received and is announcing its decision to proceed with approval of South Carolina's request to implement its SNAP demonstration project.

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 211 (Tuesday, November 3, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 3, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69237-69238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22387]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Administration

[FNA-2026-XXXXX]


Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: State of South 
Carolina SNAP Demonstration Project

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

ACTION: Notice of approval to implement Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program demonstration project.

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SUMMARY: On September 15, 2026, the Food and Nutrition Administration 
(FNA) posted Federal Register Number 2026-18896, which invited public 
comment on the State of South Carolina's Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP) demonstration project authorized under 
section 17(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. The comment period 
closed October 15, 2026. FNA has considered all comments received and 
is announcing its decision to proceed with approval of South Carolina's 
request to implement its SNAP demonstration project.

DATES: The project is effective November 1, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shiela Corley, Acting FNA 
Administrator, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#85d6c8abc3cbabd7d5c8c1cdd4a8d2c0c7c5f0f6e1e4abe2eaf3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b3826452d2545393b262f233a463c2e292b1e180f0a450c041d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> with subject line of ``SC 
SNAP Demonstration Project''.

[[Page 69238]]


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. This demonstration project is implemented by the 
State, and FNA will carefully review the results of the project based 
on the State's evaluation data. All relevant documents, including the 
State's demonstration project request(s) and FNA approval(s), 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 South Carolina Demonstration Project Request

    The State of South Carolina requested to conduct a demonstration 
project to amend the SNAP definition of food for purchase to exclude 
``candy, energy drinks, soft drinks, and sweetened beverages.'' The 
State formally requested to conduct this project on September 23, 2025. 
On July 23, 2026, the State requested to modify the initial project 
request to further amend the definition of ``soft drink''. The State 
requested to implement the project on August 31, 2026. Subsequently, in 
consultation with FNA, the State revised its planned implementation 
date to November 1, 2026. The State's project request and the 
subsequent modification request can be found in the supporting document 
section and on the FNA website at the following address: <a href="https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction/southcarolina">https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction/southcarolina</a>.

USDA Approval of Initial Demonstration Project Request

    FNA approved the State's initial demonstration project request on 
December 10, 2025. The approval can be found in the supporting document 
section and at the following address: <a href="https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction/southcarolina">https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction/southcarolina</a>.

Discussion of Public Comments

    FNA received 47 comments on South Carolina's demonstration project 
request. Most commenters opposed the project, citing concerns about 
potential health and nutrition impacts, limits on participant choice, 
added burden on SNAP households, retailer and consumer confusion, and 
the project's evaluation measures. Supporters stated that the project 
advances SNAP's nutrition objectives, could improve public health 
outcomes, and would promote responsible use of taxpayer-funded 
benefits.
    FNA carefully considered all comments and determined that none of 
the comments received were significant. FNA has decided to allow South 
Carolina's revised project request to proceed without modification, 
effective November 1, 2026. SNAP's statutory purpose is to improve 
nutrition among low-income households, and FNA believes the project is 
consistent with that purpose and represents an appropriate policy 
intervention to address diet-related disease and obesity. FNA has 
monitored the State's efforts to prepare retailers and provide notice 
to SNAP households. FNA also notes that SNAP benefits are supplemental 
and do not restrict participants from purchasing excluded items with 
non-SNAP funds. FNA has determined that approval is authorized under 
section 17(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and that South 
Carolina is prepared to implement the project successfully.

Shiela Corley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Administration, USDA.
[FR Doc. 2026-22387 Filed 11-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P


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