local
Arkansas will move forward with a ban on using SNAP for candy and soda despite recent court ruling
By Travis Loller, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· June 29, 2026
· 4 min read
Arkansas is moving forward with its plan to ban government food aid from being used to buy candy and soda beginning on Wednesday, even though a federal judge ruled last week that similar restrictions in other states violated federal law. Announcing the plan on Monday, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ...
Key takeaway In a news release, the Arkansas governor's office cited Stanford University research that found restricting the purchase of sugary drinks with food stamps could reduce rates of obesity and type-2 diabetes.
Why this matters in The Pearland
The decision by Arkansas to move forward with its ban on using SNAP for candy and soda has implications for Brazoria County, where many residents rely on the program to access groceries. As a community within the Houston area, Pearland 's residents may be watching this development closely, particularly given the high rates of obesity and related health issues in Texas. The fact that Arkansas is one of 23 states to receive a waiver to restrict sugary food and drink purchases with SNAP benefits suggests that other states, including Texas, may be considering similar measures. The mixed research on whether restricting SNAP purchases improves diet quality and health outcomes will likely be a topic of debate in the Texas legislature and among local health advocates. Pearland residents who rely on SNAP benefits may want to pay close attention to any potential changes to the program that could affect their ability to purchase certain foods.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Pearland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 29, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Arkansas is moving forward with its plan to ban government food aid from being used to buy candy and soda beginning on Wednesday, even though a federal judge ruled last week that similar restrictions in other states violated federal law. Announcing the plan on Monday, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 29, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Pearland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Travis Loller, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Pearland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Pearland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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