S. 4866

[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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