Install
Promoting Access to Local Agriculture Act of 2026
A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to streamline applications from farmers to be vendors under certain nutrition programs, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- Committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became law
Summary
Promoting Access to Local Agriculture Act of 2026
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a streamlined process for farmers and ranchers to provide benefits under certain federal nutrition programs. These programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP).
Specifically, USDA must establish a streamlined application process for farmers and ranchers to apply to be vendors under the nutrition programs, including by developing a single application for the programs or an information sharing system. USDA must also develop a streamlined process for these vendors to use standardized technology to process program benefits (such as a single piece of equipment or a mobile application).
Further, USDA must ensure that the program benefit processing equipment and systems made available by a state agency are appropriate for the entity. For example, this includes ensuring wireless or mobile processing equipment and technology systems are appropriate for farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer markets.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Actions
- May 11, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- May 11, 2026 Introduced in Senate
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