Notice of Approval: State of Virginia SNAP Demonstration Project

Summary

On Sept.15, 2026, the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) posted Federal Register Number 2026-18880, which invited public comment on the state of Virginia'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 Oct. 15, 2026. FNA has considered all comments received and is announcing its decision to proceed with approval of Virginia's request to implement its SNAP demonstration project.

Dates

The project is effective Nov. 1, 2026.

For Further Information Contact

Shiela Corley, Acting FNA Administrator, at [email protected] with subject line of ''VA 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. 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 webpage on May 21, 2025, to post state agencies' project requests and approvals and provide exact implementation timelines.

Discussion of the Demonstration Project

State of Virginia Demonstration Project Request

The state of Virginia requested to conduct a demonstration project to amend the SNAP definition of food for purchase to exclude "sweetened beverages." The state formally requested to conduct this project on Nov. 4, 2025. On Feb. 3, 2026, the state requested to modify the initial project request to amend the implementation date to Oct. 1, 2026. Subsequently, in consultation with FNA, the state revised its planned implementation date to Nov. 1, 2026. The state's project request and the subsequent modification request can be found in the supporting document section and on the Virginia SNAP Food Restriction Waiver page.

USDA Approval of Initial Demonstration Project Request

FNA approved the state's initial demonstration project request on Dec. 10, 2025. The approval can be found in the supporting document section and at the Virginia SNAP Food Restriction Waiver page.

Discussion of Public Comments

FNA received 30 comments on Virginia'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 Virginia's revised project request to proceed without modification, effective Nov. 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 supported the state in its 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 Virginia is prepared to implement the project successfully.