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119-s-4483119th CongressWALLET

Promoting Access to Local Agriculture Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Smith, Tina [D-MN]

Introduced

Summary

Would create a single, unified application and shared payment-processing technology for direct-marketing farmers across key federal nutrition programs. The bill would let farmers use one application or an automatic information‑sharing system so approval in one program can count for the others and reduce duplicate paperwork.

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  • Direct-marketing farmers and ranchers would face fewer administrative barriers when seeking vendor status and could be prequalified across the covered programs instead of applying separately to each one.
  • Low-income families, seniors, and WIC participants could gain better access to local produce because more farmers might accept benefits across SNAP, the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, WIC (including its Farmers' Market Nutrition Program), and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program.
  • The Agriculture Secretary would have to build the shared application or information system, create standardized processing technology (like a single device or mobile app) for benefit redemption, and report progress to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees within one year.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Easier vendor enrollment and payments for farmers

If enacted, the bill would make it easier for farmers and ranchers who sell directly to consumers to become vendors for several federal nutrition programs. It would cover SNAP; the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program; WIC (including the WIC farmers' market program); and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program. The Secretary would either create one application usable across these programs or share an approved vendor's information so that vendor is prequalified for the others. The Secretary would also require a standard way for vendors to accept benefits, like one device or a mobile app, and require State‑provided equipment for markets to include wireless or mobile processing. The Secretary would report progress to the House and Senate agriculture committees within one year after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Smith, Tina [D-MN]

MN • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 7/13/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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