December 12, 2025
 SAVE THE DATE: Armstrong eyes Jan. 21 as tentative date for special legislative session
Focus of session will be appropriating federal funds for Rural Health Transformation Program; HHS awaiting official notice of funding award
USDA Secretary approves ND’s SNAP food waiver, another step toward becoming healthiest state
 Gov. Armstrong thanked U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins for approving North Dakota’s application for a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food-choice waiver.
Joined by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Rollins announced the approval of SNAP food-choice waivers for North Dakota and five other states – Hawai‘i, Missouri, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee – under the Make America Healthy Again initiative. The waivers will amend the statutory definition of “food for purchase” under SNAP beginning in 2026.
“By investing in healthier food purchases with SNAP, we are taking a proactive step toward becoming the healthiest state in the nation,” Armstrong said. “This waiver will lead to better health outcomes and quality of life for North Dakotans who participate in SNAP.”
In accordance with the approved waiver, North Dakota will begin implementing the new restrictions by September 2026. Food and beverages that will no longer be eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits include:
- Soft drinks (soda, pop, etc.)
- Energy drinks
- Candy and confections, including cake decorations (edible), chewing gum, breath
- mints and licorice
- Baking ingredients, including almond bark, marshmallows, baking chocolate (as bars, drops or pieces); chocolate or butterscotch chips
- Chocolate-covered nuts, candy-coated nuts, honey-roasted nuts, caramel apples, trail mix with candy pieces
- Cereal bars (sweetened & without flour) & energy bars containing a “supplemental facts” box.
“The SNAP waiver encourages North Dakotans to make more nutritious food choices that not only reduce chronic disease rates, but also foster long-term health, vitality, and stronger communities,” said Pat Traynor, commissioner for North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS). “This decision will help us achieve our goal of becoming the healthiest state in the nation.”
“SNAP benefit amounts are based on the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan which outlines the cost for households to meet the nutritional needs necessary to achieve a healthy diet. The amount is intended to supplement a household’s food budget,” said HHS Economic Assistance Director Michele Gee. “This waiver addresses public health challenges across North Dakota by ensuring that people are using their SNAP benefits to purchase the healthiest options available.”
HHS will begin working with SNAP retailers to prepare for the changes that will take effect by September 2026.
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides monthly benefits to help families buy groceries. Currently 29,250 North Dakota households are receiving SNAP benefits, totaling 58,570 people. Of those households, 42% include a person under 18 years old, 30% include a person 60 years of age or older and 32% include a person with a disability.
If you have questions about SNAP, visit hhs.nd.gov/applyforhelp or contact the Customer Support Center by email at [email protected]; phone Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, at 866-614-6005 or 701-328-1000, 711 (TTY); or mail to Customer Support Center, P.O. Box 5562, Bismarck, ND 58506. You can also contact a local human service zone office.
Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden participated in the 12th cohort of the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows program. The cohort focused on education as an investment to strengthen the nation's economy and society, providing attendees with the knowledge to cultivate smart and effective education agendas.
Participants attended a number of sessions highlighting research and analyses on successful education policies and practices and were introduced to leaders directing successful reform efforts across the nation.
"This program was a great opportunity to work with a bipartisan group of senior policymakers from across the nation to champion education and uplift fairness-focused solutions for our schools and students," Strinden said.
Armstrong voices support for revised ‘Waters of the U.S.’ as good for ND ag, energy, businesses
Gov. Armstrong shared his support for the revised definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers, which will provide certainty and common-sense regulation for farmers, businesses and consumers.
U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer hosted EPA and Army Corps officials at a listening session Friday at Bismarck State College for the proposed WOTUS rule, which is open for a 45-day comment period through Jan. 5. Among those attending were EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Peggy Browne, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven and Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Lee Forsgren.
“The Biden-era WOTUS rule was an existential crisis for North Dakota. It represented massive federal overreach that would have been catastrophic for North Dakota’s farmers and ranchers, energy producers and small businesses. That’s why our state has been the tip of the spear in pushing back on previous rules that would have harmed our state,” Armstrong said. “The Trump administration’s proposed rule protects our water resources while protecting and preserving private property rights. Under this new rule, farmers and ranchers won’t have to worry about asking the federal government for permission before they can plant a soybean crop or run cows on their pasture. It’s great to be up here knowing that North Dakota voices will actually be heard.”
Members of Armstrong’s Cabinet also spoke favorably on the revised WOTUS definition, offering minor clarifications, including Department of Water Resources Director Reice Haase, Department of Environmental Quality Director Dave Glatt, and Department of Transportation Director Ron Henke. Also providing comments were state Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Attorney General Drew Wrigley, who serve on the state Industrial Commission chaired by Armstrong.
The proposed rule revises the regulations defining the scope of waters federally covered under the Clean Water Act.
North Dakota and 23 other states successfully sued the EPA and Army Corps in 2023 over the Biden administration’s overreaching WOTUS rule, convincing a federal judge to block rule from being implemented. The U.S. Supreme Court subsequently found in Sackett v. EPA that the Biden EPA’s interpretation of WOTUS was inconsistent with the Clean Water Act and would impinge on states’ traditional authority to regulate land and water.
On Nov. 17, the EPA and Army Corps under the Trump administration announced a proposed updated definition of WOTUS, saying it will play a key role in EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback initiative by protecting water resources, strengthening cooperative federalism, and supporting American industry, energy producers, the technology sector, farmers, ranchers, developers, businesses and landowners
Comments on the revised definition may be submitted here.
IN OTHER NEWS
Gov. Armstrong met with the North Dakota Association of Counties Board to discuss the successful property tax relief and reform that passed last session, as well as the upcoming special legislative session and other topics.
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Lt. Gov. Strinden joined the Great Plains Food Bank at the 19th annual Fill the Dome day. Students from schools all around Fargo-Moorhead helped raise more than $50,000 during the event, this year with a “super hero” theme.
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Gov. Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Strinden met with kids taking part in the Marketplace for Kids event at the Capitol. These elementary and middle school students are building critical leadership skills and are getting involved beyond the classroom by exploring different career fields.
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Gov. Armstrong spoke at the Broadband Association of North Dakota to disucss how North Dakota can reach 100% connectivity. NDIT recently announced federal approval of North Dakota's BEAD plan (Broadband Equity, Access and Development), positioning North Dakota to become the first state in the nation to offer high-speed fiber connectivity to every user — we’re currently at 95%.
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Gov. Armstrong was honored with the Andy Mork Riverman Award at the 62nd annual Joint North Dakota
Water Convention & Irrigation Workshop and Upper Missouri Water Association Conference for his dedication and recognition of the importance of the Missouri River to the state of North Dakota. |
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