SenateS. 4866119th Congress
Farmers’ Market Local Revitalization Act of 2026
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4866 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4866
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to expand
investment in farmers' markets and farmers' market nutrition programs
to strengthen communities and improve access to healthy food, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 23, 2026
Mr. Bennet introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to expand
investment in farmers' markets and farmers' market nutrition programs
to strengthen communities and improve access to healthy food, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Farmers' Market Local Revitalization
Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to increase and enhance funding for farmers' market
nutrition programs--
(A) to better support seniors, food-insecure
families, and income-eligible mothers, infants, and
children; and
(B) to increase market opportunities for local
farmers; and
(2) to promote equitable access and support a phased
transition to a more modernized farmers' market nutrition
program.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR SENIOR FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.
Section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 3007) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``seniors'' and
inserting ``senior'';
(2) by striking ``seniors farmers' market nutrition
program'' each place it appears and inserting ``senior farmers'
market nutrition program'';
(3) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``$20,600,000 for each of fiscal
years 2008 through 2023'' and inserting ``$75,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031'';
(B) by striking ``Of the funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Secretary of Agriculture'' and
inserting the following:
``(1) Commodity credit corporation.--Of the funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary of Agriculture
(referred to in this section as the `Secretary')''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--
``(A) In general.--In addition to the amounts made
available under paragraph (1), there are authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out
subsection (c) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2027 through 2031.
``(B) Allocation formula.--
``(i) State amounts.--Until the date on
which a rule is promulgated under clause (ii),
the additional amounts made available under
subparagraph (A) shall be allocated to States
based on the number of seniors with household
incomes at or below 200 percent of the Federal
poverty line.
``(ii) Revised formula.--Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of the
Farmers' Market Local Revitalization Act of
2026, the Secretary shall promulgate a rule
establishing a revised formula for allocating
funds under this section, which shall--
``(I) take into account--
``(aa) the population of
low-income seniors;
``(bb) senior food
insecurity rates; and
``(cc) rurality and cost-
to-serve factors; and
``(II) include hold-harmless
provisions limiting decreases in
benefit amounts to not more than 10
percent during the first 2 years of
implementation of the revised formula.
``(3) Nonparticipant set-aside.--
``(A) In general.--Of the total amounts made
available under this section, not less than 10 percent
shall be reserved for States, territories, and Indian
Tribes that did not participate in the program under
this section in the prior fiscal year.
``(B) General availability.--If the amount reserved
under subparagraph (A) is not fully utilized in a
fiscal year, that amount shall be available in the
subsequent fiscal year for all States participating in
the program.'';
(4) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) as
subsections (g) through (j), respectively; and
(5) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Benefit Enhancement.--The additional amounts made available
under subsection (a)(2)(A) shall be used--
``(1) to increase the minimum individual benefit available
under the senior farmers' market nutrition program to $35;
``(2) to remove the maximum individual benefit limit under
the senior farmers' market nutrition program;
``(3) to support a phased transition to electronic
incentive delivery, including technical assistance and
investments that allow farmers and seniors to continue using
existing redemption models during the transition, with an
emphasis on interoperability; and
``(4) to allow State agencies to establish eligibility
criteria for program participation, which may include household
income, participation in nutrition programs for seniors,
geographic isolation, or other indicators of need.
``(d) Approved Aggregators.--States shall allow up to 50 percent of
the benefit amount provided to participants in the senior farmers'
market nutrition program to be redeemed through community supported
agriculture, food hubs, or other approved aggregators that purchase
directly from farms, including home delivery models.
``(e) Payment Technologies.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) allow States to use electronic benefit transfer or
mobile payment technologies for redemption of benefits under
the senior farmers' market nutrition program; and
``(2) encourage States to implement payment technologies
that are interoperable with other Federal nutrition benefit
programs, including--
``(A) the supplemental nutrition assistance program
established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
``(B) the special supplemental nutrition program
for women, infants, and children established by section
17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786),
including the farmers' market nutrition program under
that program; and
``(C) the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive
Program established under section 4405 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7517).
``(f) Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--Of the amounts made available under this
section, not more than $25,000,000 per fiscal year shall be
provided to State agencies, territories, and Indian Tribes to
provide training and technical assistance--
``(A) to support infrastructure improvements at
farmers' markets and other eligible outlets, including
modernization of equipment to integrate electronic
benefit transfer, mobile payment technologies, and
other nutrition benefit programs;
``(B) to assist rural markets and farmers in
expanding capacity to serve low-income seniors;
``(C) to provide on-the-ground support to
facilitate the transition to electronic incentive
delivery for seniors and participating producers; and
``(D) in the case of States, territories, or Indian
Tribes that have not previously participated in the
program under this section, in establishing and
administering the program.
``(2) Third party.--A State agency, territory, or Indian
Tribe may contract with a third-party entity to provide the
training and technical assistance described in paragraph (1).
``(3) Allocation.--The amount made available under
paragraph (1) shall be allocated in accordance with the
allocation formula under subsection (a)(2)(B).''.
SEC. 4. MINIMUM INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT INCREASE UNDER WIC FARMERS' MARKET
NUTRITION PROGRAM.
Section 17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1786(m)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``(4) Subject to'' and
inserting the following:
``(4) Formula for amount of grant.--Subject to'';
(2) in paragraph (5)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``(5) Each State'' and inserting the
following:
``(5) Grant requirements.--Each State'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``funds--'' in
the matter preceding clause (i) and all that follows
through the period at the end of clause (ii) and
inserting ``funds provided under the grant.'';
(C) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``$10'' and
inserting ``$35''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``$30''
and inserting ``$60'';
(D) in subparagraph (F)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``17'' and
inserting ``18''; and
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking ``meet
the requirements of paragraph (3)'' and
inserting ``carry out the program''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(H) The State may use not more than 10 percent of
the total amount of program funds in a fiscal year for
technology modernization and related administrative
activities, subject to the condition that those funds
are not needed to maintain caseload or participant
benefits.
``(I) Voluntary state share.--A State may provide
additional State, local, or private funds for the
program.'';
(3) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by striking ``(6)(A) The Secretary'' and
inserting the following:
``(6) Funding to states.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary'';
(B) by indenting subparagraphs (B) through (F) and
the clauses and subclauses therein appropriately;
(C) in subparagraph (A), in the second sentence, by
striking ``subparagraph (G)'' and inserting
``subparagraph (F)'';
(D) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``Subject
to'' and all that follows through ``paragraph
(3), the State'' and inserting ``A State''; and
(ii) in clause (ii)--
(I) by striking ``paragraph (10)''
and inserting ``paragraph (9)''; and
(II) by striking ``paragraph (6)''
and inserting ``this paragraph'';
(E) in subparagraph (C)(iv), by striking
``subparagraph (G)(i)'' each place it appears and
inserting ``subparagraph (F)(i)'';
(F) in subparagraph (D)(ii), in the matter
preceding subclause (I), by striking ``this paragraph''
and inserting ``this subparagraph''; and
(G) in subparagraph (F)(iii), by striking
``paragraph (10)(B)(ii)'' and inserting ``paragraph
(9)(B)(ii)'';
(4) in paragraph (7)--
(A) by striking ``(7)(A) The value'' and inserting
the following:
``(7) Other federal and state assistance programs.--
``(A) In general.--The value''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the
designation and all that follows through ``Any
programs'' and inserting the following:
``(B) Supplement to nutrition assistance.--Any
programs'';
(5) in paragraph (8)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``(8) For each'' and inserting the following:
``(8) Collection of state information.--For each''; and
(B) by indenting subparagraphs (A) through (F)
appropriately;
(6) in paragraph (9)--
(A) by indenting the paragraph designation and
heading appropriately;
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ``(ii) The
Secretary'' and inserting the following:
``(ii) Reallocation procedures.--The
Secretary'';
(ii) in clause (i)(II), by striking ``(II)
Notwithstanding'' and inserting the following:
``(II) Reimbursement for expenses
incurred.--Notwithstanding''; and
(iii) by striking ``(B)(i)(I) Each State''
and inserting the following:
``(C) Unobligated balances.--
``(i) Return to secretary.--
``(I) In general.--Subject to
subclause (II), each State''; and
(C) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) Mandatory funding.--There is appropriated,
out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, to the Secretary to carry out this
subsection $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027
through 2031.
``(B) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition
to amounts otherwise made available to carry out this
subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out
this subsection.'';
(7) by striking paragraphs (3) and (10);
(8) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
(9) by striking ``(m)(1) Subject to the availability of
funds appropriated for the purposes of this subsection, and as
specified in this subsection, the Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(m) Women, Infants, and Children Farmers' Market Nutrition
Program.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Coupon.--The term `coupon' means a coupon,
voucher, or other negotiable financial instrument by
which benefits provided under this section are
transferred.
``(B) Program.--The term `program' means--
``(i) the State farmers' market coupon
nutrition program authorized by this subsection
(as in effect on September 30, 1991); and
``(ii) the farmers' market nutrition
program authorized by this subsection.
``(C) Recipient.--The term `recipient' means a
person or household, as determined by the State, that
is--
``(i) chosen by a State to receive benefits
under this subsection; or
``(ii) included on a waiting list to
receive those benefits.
``(D) State agency.--The term `State agency'
includes--
``(i) a State department of agriculture;
and
``(ii) any other agency approved by the
chief executive officer of the State.
``(2) Grant program.--The Secretary''.
SEC. 5. STUDY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this
Act as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a study--
(1) to identify opportunities to better align the delivery
and redemption of benefits across farmers' market programs and
nutrition incentive programs under the supplemental nutrition
assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) for a more streamlined
experience for shoppers and vendors;
(2) to determine the feasibility of integrated or
interoperable technology systems to reduce the number of
platforms that farmers and markets manage;
(3) to determine actions to reduce administrative burden in
the senior farmers' market nutrition program under section 4402
of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C.
3007) and the farmers' market nutrition program under section
17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)),
including by minimizing duplicative applications, reporting
requirements, and transaction systems for farmers, markets, and
retailers; and
(4) the feasibility and implications of creating an
integrated, modernized farmers' market nutrition program under
section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007) that serves seniors and households that
participate in the special supplemental nutrition program for
women, infants, and children established by section 17 of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786).
(b) Consultation.--In carrying out the study under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall consult with stakeholders, including States,
markets, farmers, nonprofit organizations, and relevant payment
technology providers.
(c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress
containing--
(1) the results of the study under subsection (a); and
(2) recommendations, including any legislative or
administrative actions needed, relating to carrying out
paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a).
SEC. 6. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, and the
Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Education and Workforce
of the House of Representatives, a report that describes--
(1) the effect of this Act and the amendments made by this
Act on--
(A) local procurement of food;
(B) local farmers; and
(C) emergency feeding organizations, including food
banks, food pantries, and other community-based hunger
relief partners;
(2) the individuals and entities procuring food locally
pursuant to this Act and the amendments made by this Act; and
(3) the communities involved in programs carried out under
this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
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