Soda Tax

H5715 and S0327 are bills currently being considered by the Rhode Island General Assembly that would promote health equity by reducing consumption of sugary drinks and using the revenue generated from a 1.5 cent per ounce sugary drink tax to alleviate hunger for Rhode Island’s most vulnerable families. The tax revenue will be reinvested in the community to directly fund a new Retail SNAP Incentive Program (RSIP), enabling all Rhode Islanders who buy their groceries with SNAP benefits to receive 50% off their fresh fruit and vegetable purchases at the grocery store.