Assembly Bill 177

Limiting the foods that may be purchased under FoodShare; requiring a report on the cost to implement and comply with the food limitations; requiring review, updating, and publication of the list of authorized foods; providing an exemption from rule-making procedures; and making an appropriation. (FE)

Passed the Assembly, then stopped

The Assembly passed it on May 13, 2015, but the Senate never voted on it. A bill has to ⁠. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.

Introduced, passed

Apr 22, 2015
Committee, passed

Approved
Assembly vote, passed

Passed May 13, 2015
Senate vote, stopped here

Stopped here. The Senate never voted on it.
Governor, not reached
Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 13, 2016: “Failed to concur in pursuant to ⁠”

Read the bill

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Terms on this page

Second chamber's vote

A bill has to pass both the Assembly and the Senate in the same form before it goes to the governor.

Official term: Concurrence. More in the glossary

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary

What it would have done

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, the federal food stamp program, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and called FoodShare in this state, assists eligible low-income individuals (recipients) to purchase food. SNAP benefits are paid entirely with federal moneys. The cost of administration is split between the federal and state governments; the program is administered in this state by the Department of Health Services (DHS).

Under this bill, DHS must require that not less than 67 percent of the SNAP benefits used by a recipient in a month be used to purchase any of the following foods:

Read the full summary

foods that are on the list of foods authorized for the federal special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC foods); beef; pork; chicken;

fish; fresh produce; and fresh, frozen, and canned white potatoes. In addition, DHS must prohibit using SNAP benefits for the purchase of crab, lobster, shrimp, or any other shellfish. To facilitate compliance with the requirements, DHS may authorize grocers and other retailers that sell food to recipients (retailers) to swipe a recipient's benefit card before scanning any items that the recipient is purchasing.

Under the bill, DHS is required to reimburse retailers and warehouse suppliers in this state for their initial implementation costs associated with the new requirements. Before implementing the new requirements, DHS must determine what the implementation and compliance costs associated with the new requirements will be to retailers and warehouse suppliers in this state and must submit a report with that cost determination to the Joint Committee on Finance.

If DHS determines that a federal waiver is needed to implement the food limitation requirements or the authorization to pre-swipe benefit cards under the bill, it must request the waiver and may not implement the requirements or the pre-swipe authorization unless the waiver is granted. DHS must implement the requirements within three years after the bill is enacted or, if a waiver is necessary, within two years after the waiver is granted.

The bill requires DHS annually to review, and to update as appropriate, its list of WIC foods and to publish a current list of WIC foods on its Internet site. DHS also must publish on its Internet site a list of the foods for which 67 percent of a recipient's benefits must be used.

Who's behind it

12 representatives are its ⁠. All 12 are Republicans.

3 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 15 names

Authors (12)

Scott Allen · Republican, Assembly
Janel Brandtjen · Republican, Assembly
Mary Czaja · Republican, Assembly
Bob Gannon · Republican, Assembly
Cody Horlacher · Republican, Assembly
Samantha Kerkman · Republican, Assembly
Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
Jesse Kremer · Republican, Assembly
John Nygren · Republican, Assembly
Kevin Petersen · Republican, Assembly
Rob Brooks · Republican, Assembly
Mike Rohrkaste · Republican, Assembly

Signed on in support (3)

Howard Marklein · Republican, Senate
Steve Nass · Republican, Senate
Duey Stroebel · Republican, Senate

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Fiscal Estimate From DHS

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There were 11 votes on this bill. Taking a bill up right away needs two-thirds of the members, a higher bar than passing it, so that vote can draw more yeses than the final one.