Healthy food incentive program. (FE)

What it does

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

This bill requires the Department of Health Services, through a competitive selection process, to contract with one or more nonprofit organizations to administer a healthy food incentive program statewide. Under the program, FoodShare recipients who use FoodShare benefits for purchases at an eligible retailer would receive an amount up to the amount of benefits used at the eligible retailer for the purpose of purchasing fruits and vegetables from the eligible retailer. FoodShare, also known as the food stamp program and the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides a monetary benefit to individuals who have limited financial resources for the purpose of purchasing food products. DHS administers the FoodShare program.

Under the bill, eligible retailers include supermarkets, grocery stores, farmers' markets, nonprofit cooperatives, and farmers who sell directly to consumers among other types of food sellers. The retailers must be authorized retailers in the FoodShare program participating in the healthy food incentive program. The bill requires a nonprofit organization to prioritize including in the healthy food incentive program eligible retailers that source fruits and vegetables primarily from Wisconsin growers. The bill allows DHS to limit the amount of benefits per day that a recipient is allowed to match through the healthy food incentive program.

Who's behind it

40 lawmakers are its authors⁠. 25 are Democrats and 15 are Republicans.

8 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

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

• Fiscal Estimate From DHS
• Fiscal Estimate From DHS (Updated)

Versions and amendments

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

• Amendment Histories
• LC Amendment Memo