TN Governor Bill Lee pushes for changes to SNAP

JACKSON, Tenn. — On August 8, Governor Bill Lee announced his plans to have federal waivers to update Tennessee’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program also known as SNAP.

Governor Lee is seeking federal waivers to SNAP that would require users to have prepared foods, no processed foods and no carbonated sweetened beverages.

Governor Bill Lee shared that he is, in part,”Grateful to the Trump administration for its leadership to make America healthy again…”

According to usafacts.org, 41.7 million Americans use SNAP each month. That’s 12.3% of the US percentage. In the state of Tennessee in 2024, 711,000 people used SNAP benefits each month, according to usafacts.org.

Out of the 5o states, including the District of Columbia, Tennessee ranked 34 out 51 that uses SNAP benefits. In the proposed waivers, it will include that prepared food enables SNAP recipients to purchase hot prepared chicken and non-fried and non-breaded items.

This will allow convenient and healthy meal solutions. For processed food, it will exclude items that have sugar, corn-syrup, and high fructose corn syrup.

Along with carbonated sweetened beverages that list high fructose corn syrup, carbonated water, and sugar are no longer allowed. One resident voiced their opinion on the proposed waivers.

“I agree honestly, because we’re living in the last days. The Bible tells us in 1st Thessalonians 5:22-23, may your whole spirit soul and body be preserved blameless unto at the coming of the Lord. So I believe we’re at a time where the healthier we eat the more we’re able to actually hear from God, our body is the temple of the holy spirit,” said Twanna Chism, Jackson resident.

Governor Lee says he hopes this will improve health outcomes and reduce chronic conditions for low income families.

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