Overview
- The governor‑appointed human services board voted 8–1 to postpone a final decision until its April meeting after hours of divided testimony.
- The proposed waiver would block SNAP purchases of beverages with added sugar or artificial sweeteners unless they contain milk, plant‑based milk, or at least 50% juice, leaving chocolate milk and unsweetened seltzers eligible while excluding diet and regular sodas.
- About 600,000 Coloradans receive SNAP, and state data show sweetened beverages account for roughly 9% of SNAP spending, the second‑largest category after meat and seafood.
- State health leaders and some physicians backed the change as a public‑health measure that could curb chronic disease and future Medicaid costs, while advocacy groups and 27 Democratic lawmakers warned of stigma, shopper confusion, and burdens for small and rural retailers.
- USDA approved Colorado’s waiver in August and has recently cleared similar requests in other states, bringing the total to about 22, but Colorado cannot implement the policy—and an anticipated April 30 start—without board adoption.