NGIA Members and Partners:

We need Nebraska grocers to submit comments to USDA by November 2nd regarding the state's SNAP purchasing restrictions, part of which are slated to take effect Dec 1.  Pending federal approval, beginning on December 1, 2026, soda, soft drinks, and energy drinks will no longer be eligible for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Candy will no longer be eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits, effective on March 1, 2027. 

Only 17 comments have been submitted so far. Implementing changes during the busiest shopping season of the year creates unnecessary challenges for retailers and customers. USDA needs to hear directly from businesses.

Even if the original January 2026 waiver went smoothly at your store, USDA STILL needs to hear from you. Much of that success was possible because retailers received a UPC list from the state that allowed for system upload. It is critical that USDA understands the importance of publishing an updated UPC list again, with sufficient lead time for retailers and their tech vendors to implement changes.

Please share your firsthand experiences, particularly:

• UPC List: The demonstration project (waiver) must not be approved until the State provides a comprehensive UPC list for beverages and candy.
• Costs incurred turning on/turning off the original waiver: POS programming, employee training, signage, lost sales, and other measurable expenses.
• Losses: Shopping habits/changes, customer feedback. 
• Operational challenges: Checkout confusion, customer complaints, product eligibility issues, and staff time.
• December 1st timing: Explain why implementing or changing restrictions during the holiday season is especially disruptive, costly, or impractical.

Comments don't need to be lengthy. A few paragraphs or sentences with specific examples and actual costs can make a meaningful difference.

SUBMIT COMMENTS BY NOVEMBER 2 – FEDERAL REGISTER

Follow this link and click on “Submit Public Comment” in the middle of the screen.

NGIA submitted formal comments addressing the broader legal, economic, and operational concerns. (Click Here to Read NGIA Comments)

Our comments make the broader case, but your direct experiences and data are essential to demonstrating why a December 1st implementation is unnecessary.

Thank you for making your voice heard!

On October 15th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) expanded an existing hours-of-service waiver for truckers hauling gasoline and diesel to include ethanol products and heating oil. FMCSA expanded the waiver to provide motor carriers with more flexibility when transporting fuel to offset global supply disruptions, higher demand and rising costs amid seasonal agricultural harvests and public travel.

The waiver, which expires Dec. 16, limits the maximum total driving time to 16 hours in any 24-hour period for interstate motor carriers and operators of commercial motor vehicles transporting diesel, gasoline, ethanol and denatured ethanol.