Creating the Wisconsin Public Food Administration Authority and making an appropriation. (FE)

What it would have done

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

This bill creates the Wisconsin Public Food Administration Authority. The bill provides that the mission of the authority is to ensure universal access to affordable, nutritious food by supporting local governments in the development and operation of public grocery stores and operating a statewide public food distribution network that lowers costs, stabilizes prices, supports workers, and prioritizes food-insecure communities.

Under the bill, the authority must administer a statewide public food distribution network to distribute products and services to public grocery stores, cooperatives and employee-owned grocery stores, public schools, and state buildings and programs. Under the bill, the services that the authority provides include 1) bulk purchasing of groceries, using local farmers and small businesses; 2) negotiating purchase prices of food and products; 3) funding and management of the shipping of groceries; and 4) assistance, training, and operational and administrative support. The bill also requires the authority to support the planning, development, and ongoing operations of public grocery stores and allows the authority to award grants for public grocery stores. The bill requires the authority to prioritize financial support for communities the authority determines to be food insecure. The bill requires the authority to define small, medium, and large categories for public grocery stores and provide different requirements for small, medium, and large public grocery stores, including cost-sharing, operating hours, and amenities. The bill requires the authority to establish standards for public grocery stores, including all of the following: 1) functionality, cleanliness, and ease of use for shoppers; 2) accessibility requirements; 3) environmentally sustainable, cost-effective construction practices; and 4) a consistent visual identity and architectural character. The bill also requires the authority to establish pricing for products in public grocery stores. Under the bill, the price of a product generally may not exceed 5 percent of the amount paid to acquire the product. Additionally, the authority may authorize a price that is up to 30 percent under the amount paid to acquire a product for food-insecure areas that the authority determines are priority; for products that the authority designates as staple goods; for limited promotional periods; for states of emergency; or for other periods, as determined by the authority. Finally, the bill requires the authority to report annually to the legislature on performance metrics for public grocery stores, financial status information, and recommendations for statutory changes.

Who's behind it

7 representatives are its authors⁠. All 7 are Democrats.

1 more lawmaker signed on in support⁠.