tl;dr: this is part of a set of existing rules prohibiting stores from giving SNAP recipients a harder OR easier time shopping there (e.g. discounts for SNAP customers only aren’t allowed, and neither is price-gouging and charging them more for using SNAP balance than the cash price).

the whole situation still sucks

But no one is getting the benefits right now, how can they be given special treatment?

“Hey SNAP recipients: come in for 15% off no questions asked.”

Doesn’t mean it’s exclusive to SNAP…

Well if no one is buying the food it’s going to end up somewhere, that’s a lot of groceries not being bought this month. Some stores have better donation programs than others.