EXECUTIVE ORDER 25-30

WHEREAS, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP") is administered by the State of Missouri to provide food assistance for low-income Missouri families to supplement their grocery budgets and encourage consumption of nutritious food essential to health and well-being; and  

WHEREAS, healthy and nutritionally secure families are critical to supporting a path to self-sufficiency and ultimately a thriving state, and the well-being of Missouri citizens is of paramount importance; and

WHEREAS, nutrition-sensitive chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and dental cavities, particularly in children, are often the result of and exacerbated by unhealthy diets, leading to a significant public health concern in Missouri; and

WHEREAS, these chronic diseases are a leading cause of death in the state, with heart disease being the number one cause and cancer being the second, and in 2024, heart disease killed 15,376 Missourians while obesity-associated cancer deaths claimed 5,511 lives; and

WHEREAS, the prevalence of chronic diseases is substantial, with 22.2% of Missourians having diabetes or prediabetes and over one-third of adults classified as obese, highlighting the urgent need for initiatives that promote healthier dietary habits; and

WHEREAS, a robust agricultural sector is the bedrock of Missouri's economy and provides essential, nutritious food products, including fruits, vegetables, poultry, meats, and grains, that are crucial for a well-balanced diet; and

WHEREAS, Missouri is a leading national agricultural producer in a variety of food commodities that provide healthy, sustainable dietary options for Missourians, including 2nd for meat goats, 3rd for beef cattle, 4th for rice, 5th for turkeys, 7th for hogs, and 7th for broiler chickens, among others; and

WHEREAS, with our unique strength in food production, it is this Administration’s intention to promote healthy diets sourced from the best quality products grown and produced right here within our own borders; and

WHEREAS, incentivizing the purchase of nutritious, locally-sourced agricultural products through the SNAP program can simultaneously improve public health outcomes and strengthen Missouri's agricultural industry; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the State of Missouri to ensure that the approximately $1.5 billion in annual SNAP benefits issued in Missouri are utilized in a manner that maximizes nutritional health for recipients while also supporting the diverse and abundant agricultural output of our state;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MIKE KEHOE, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri, do hereby order the following:

  1. The Director of the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS), in partnership with expert nutritional advice through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, shall prepare and submit a request for a waiver to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to authorize the State of Missouri to operate the SNAP program in a manner that prioritizes healthy foods and nutritional value, discourages foods that are high in added sugar and ultra processed, and supports Missouri agriculture.
  2. Alterations to Missouri’s SNAP program should be designed to support the purchase of a wide variety of whole and minimally processed healthy food categories, including, but not limited to:
    • Fresh fruits and vegetables
    • Meat, fish, poultry, and other proteins
    • Dairy products
    • Whole grains and bread products
    • Legumes
  3. The Director of DSS shall explore and recommend strategies to further incentivize the purchase of fresh fruits, vegetables, and Missouri-produced meats and dairy products within the SNAP program by utilizing and enhancing existing Missouri healthy food education and access programs, such as the "Double Up Food Bucks" initiative that provides additional financial benefits for healthy food purchases.
  4. Within 15 days of this Executive Order’s issuance, the DSS Director shall begin coordination with USDA, FNS on the waiver process. Key stakeholders, including public health and nutrition experts, SNAP beneficiaries and administrators, and related business and industry representatives, are to be consulted in the waiver development process.
  5. All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and officers of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate in the implementation of this Order.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 28th day of September, 2025.

[signature of Mike Kehoe]
MIKE KEHOE
GOVERNOR

ATTEST:

[signature of Denny Hoskins]
DENNY HOSKINS
SECRETARY OF STATE

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