US EditionAfter Two Years Opting Out, Iowa to Participate in Summer EBT
Iowa will provide $40 monthly per child in Summer EBT benefits with restrictions on unhealthy foods, aligning federal aid with state nutrition rules, officials said.
- Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Health and Human Services said Monday Iowa will participate in SUN Bucks in 2026 after USDA approved a waiver aligning it with state nutrition rules.
- After opting out for two years, Iowa created Healthy Kids Iowa as an alternative, saying SUN Bucks lacked a nutrition focus and requested permission to apply Healthy SNAP purchase limits.
- Under the waiver Iowa will limit purchases to healthy staples, allowing $40 per child per month on EBT cards for three summer months but barring candy and soda.
- Most eligible children will be automatically enrolled, and Iowa HHS will post enrollment details on its website in early 2026, while Larry Johnson, Director of Iowa HHS, said the state is committed to supporting families.
- The governor's office reported over 3 million nutritious meals and snacks were served at more than 500 locations, but some food banks and pantries said distribution created operational challenges.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Cherokee Tribune Ledger News
State of Iowa receives USDA approval to align Healthy SNAP, SUN Bucks summer food program in 2026
Governor Reynolds and Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the state will participate in the federal SUN Bucks program (also known as Summer EBT) beginning in 2026 after being notified Friday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)…
Iowa to rejoin USDA’s SUN Bucks program in 2026
Governor Reynolds says the State of Iowa will participate in the federal program that gives low income families with school aged children $40 a month during the summer to buy food. Starting January 1, the USDA has given Iowa permission to prohibit food stamps from being used by buy things like soft drinks and candy […]
Oskaloosa Herald
Iowa to scrap Healthy Kids Iowa in favor of federal, summer feeding program
Eligible Iowa households can receive a monthly allotment to spend on certain food items at the grocery store throughout the summer now that Iowa plans to participate in the federal summer feeding program.
The Daily Nonpareil - Council Bluffs, Iowa…
Sioux City JournalIowa to participate in Summer EBT in 2026 after state program reached far fewer children
The announcement came as a report made available to The Gazette showed Iowa’s program in 2025 fell short of reaching the number of children that the federal program would have.
Iowa to participate in Summer EBT program with new nutrition guidelines
DES MOINES, Iowa -- After two summers of opting not to participate in the federal Summer EBT program, which helps families feed kids when they are out of school, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday that Iowa would take part in 2026 after receiving approval from USDA to apply its own Healthy SNAP guidelines to the [...]
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