Starting April 1, 2026, Texans who use SNAP benefits won’t be able to buy candy or sweetened drinks — including sodas and artificially sweetened beverages. The change, approved by the federal government, aims to promote healthier food choices.

The program would give low income families an extra $120 per child for summer lunches, but federal debate about food benefits could endanger the program.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) received federal approval allowing recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to apply for replacement benefits for food lost or destroyed in last week’s storms.

The USDA estimates the families of 3.8 million children could have received $120 per child to cover summer lunches if the state participated in the new $2.5 billion program launching this summer. Texas is one of 15 states opting out.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in a dozen Texas counties can apply for replacement benefits for food lost or destroyed in severe storms occurring June 14-16, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday.

Governor Greg Abbott announced Thursday that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is providing more than $344.1 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of January. The allotments are expected to help about 1.6 million Texas households.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will provide approximately $202 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of November as the state continues its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University of Texas Child Development day care center in Austin on April 6, 2020. Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneAlthough COVID-19 transmission rates nationwide among children have appeared to remain relatively low, more than 300 children at Texas child care centers have tested positive and the numbers are rising quickly. As of June 30, there were 950 reported positive cases of COVID-19 307 children and 643 staff members at 668 child care locations. About 1.1 million Texas children were in state-licensed and registered home day care centers before COVID-19 struck. Several child care centers have closed during the pandemic, with others reporting a drop in the number of children attending.