{"id":1677,"date":"2026-08-25T17:10:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T17:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=1677"},"modified":"2026-08-25T17:10:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T17:10:26","slug":"florida-becomes-first-state-to-ban-use-of-ebt-cards-to-purchase-inappropriate-non-essential-items","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbaneconomynews.com\/?p=1677","title":{"rendered":"Florida Becomes First State to Ban Use of EBT Cards to Purchase \u2018Inappropriate\u2019 Non-Essential Items"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced Monday that Florida will become the first state to ban the use of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) funds for \u201cinappropriate\u201d non-essential purchases like tobacco, pornography, tattoos, and video games.<\/p>\n

Read more Marijuana Smoking Hits Record High as Cigarette Use Ties Record Low<\/a><\/p>\n

DeSantis made the announcement during a news conference at Feeding Tampa Bay, a regional food bank and nonprofit organization based in Tampa, Florida.<\/p>\n

He said the amended plan would prohibit EBT cards from being used to purchase:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products
\n\u2022 Drugs and intoxicants
\n\u2022 Pornography and adult content
\n\u2022 Video games
\n\u2022 Theme park subscriptions and entertainment tickets
\n\u2022 Tattoos, spa services, and tanning
\n\u2022 Psychic and fortune-telling services<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously some of these cards are [being used by] people who don\u2019t need it and it\u2019s just fraud,\u201d the governor said. \u201cThey\u2019re milking the system, they\u2019re not really needy, they\u2019re scam artists.\u201d<\/p>\n

DeSantis stressed that the policy aims to ensure taxpayer-funded aid is used to provide necessities like food, clothing, and medicine to truly needy individuals, while reducing fraud.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf somebody really is needy, we just want to make sure that money is going to the things that are going to help that individual,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The new prohibitions build upon existing bans on alcohol and gambling at adult entertainment or gaming facilities. Implementation will occur in phases, starting with SNAP-authorized retailers, and requires approval from the Trump administration. DeSantis said the state was in the process of drafting a formal letter to the federal government requesting the additional restrictions.<\/p>\n

Read more Justice Department Unveils New National Fraud Detection Center<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately the strength of our economy and society is not how many can we get EBT cards to, but how many people can we liberate from needing an EBT card in the first place,\u201c said DeSantis.<\/p>\n

Officials stated the changes will not reduce benefit amounts or affect family eligibility.<\/p>\n