Florida Becomes First State To Ban Tattoos, Vapes For Welfare Program

Interesting desantis, floridaunited states, welfare, welfare benefits admin August 28, 2026 0 Comments

Florida Becomes First State To Ban Tattoos, Vapes For Welfare Program

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his state will become the first in the nation to prohibit residents from using welfare benefits on “non-essential items,” such as tattoos and vapes, according to an Aug. 24 press release.

Florida will amend its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) State Plan to prohibit residents from using Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) on “inappropriate, luxury, and non-essential items,” according to the same press release. Besides tattoos and vapes, residents will also be blocked from using TCA to purchase drugs, video games, pornography, entertainment subscriptions, and fortune-telling services.

However, DeSantis said Florida will continue to help residents who “genuinely need assistance.”

“Florida has become the first in the nation to set guardrails on our TANF State Plan to stop these taxpayer-funded benefits from being used to purchase inappropriate, luxury, and non-essential goods and services. Taxpayer-funded assistance should help families put food on the table, keep the lights on, purchase clothing, provide for their children and overcome barriers on the path toward independence.”

“We will continue supporting Floridians who genuinely need assistance, while working to improve accountability and transparency so that these programs operate as intended.”

Eligible residents receive approximately $250 a month in TCA funds deposited to an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. TCA benefits are intended to cover basic necessities such as food, clothing, housing, and personal care items. EBT cards cannot be used to purchase alcohol or make transactions at adult entertainment establishments, casinos, or gaming establishments, according to the same release.

Florida previously prohibited Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from using their benefits to buy soda, energy drinks, and candy as of April 2026, according to the release. (RELATED: Meta Pays $17,000,000,000 Over Harm To Kids On Social Media)

SNAP participation in Florida following the passage of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” dropped 19.6 percent from 2,849,238 in July 2025 to 2,290,760 in May 2026, according to data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Similarly, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows 2,948,752 Florida residents participating in SNAP benefits in April 2025 compared to 2,296,192 in April 2026.

Children represent 38 percent of SNAP recipients in Florida, while senior citizens represent 24 percent, reports the Miami Herald.

Cuts to the SNAP program in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” are estimated to reduce federal spending by nearly $187 billion through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Florida’s new restrictions will roll out in phases, according to information released by the governor’s office.