Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Farmers’ Market Local Revitalization Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Farmers' Market Local Revitalization Act of 2026 aims to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. The bill seeks to expand investment in farmers' markets and nutrition programs to improve access to healthy food. It specifically targets support for seniors, food-insecure families, and income-eligible mothers, infants, and children. Key provisions include increasing funding for the senior farmers' market nutrition program and modernizing benefit delivery through electronic systems. Additionally, the bill mandates studies on streamlining nutrition programs and improving technology interoperability.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +7
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill significantly increases the senior farmers' market nutrition program budget and raises the minimum individual benefit to $35.
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
The bill increases funding and minimum benefits for the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to support infants and children.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill enhances nutrition benefits specifically targeting food-insecure and low-income families.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Support for Seniors: The bill increases funding for the senior farmers' market nutrition program to $75,000,000 for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (Section 3). It also increases the minimum individual benefit to $35 and removes the maximum individual benefit limit (Section 3, subsection (c)).
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Improved Access for Families and Children: The bill aims to better support food-insecure families and income-eligible mothers, infants, and children by increasing and enhancing funding (Section 2). Specifically, it updates the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program with mandatory funding of $30,000,000 for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (Section 4).
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Better Market Opportunities for Farmers: The act intends to increase market opportunities for local farmers (Section 2). It allows participants to redeem up to 50 percent of their benefits through community supported agriculture, food hubs, or other approved aggregators (Section 3, subsection (d)).
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Modernized and Easier Payment Systems: The bill supports a transition to electronic incentive delivery and allows for the use of electronic benefit transfer or mobile payment technologies (Section 3, subsection (c) and (e)). This includes encouraging technologies that work across different Federal nutrition programs (Section 3, subsection (e)).
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Support for Rural and New Markets: The bill provides for a nonparticipant set-aside to support States, territories, and Indian Tribes that did not participate in the program in the prior fiscal year (Section 3, subsection (3)). It also provides funds for technical assistance to help rural markets and farmers expand their capacity (Section 3, subsection (f)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Potential Benefit Fluctuations: When a revised allocation formula is implemented, the bill includes a provision that limits decreases in benefit amounts to no more than 10 percent during the first 2 years, implying that benefit amounts could potentially decrease (Section 3, subsection (a)(2)(B)(ii)(II)).
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Administrative Restrictions on Technology Funds: Under the WIC program, States may use up to 10 percent of program funds for technology modernization, but only if those funds are not needed to maintain caseload or participant benefits (Section 4, subsection (2)(B)(H)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill significantly increases the senior farmers' market nutrition program budget and raises the minimum individual benefit to $35. Would children be better off under this? — The bill increases funding and minimum benefits for the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program to support infants and children. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill enhances nutrition benefits specifically targeting food-insecure and low-income families. Would farmers be better off under this? — The act increases market opportunities and provides technical assistance to local producers. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions for technical assistance to assist rural markets and farmers in expanding capacity.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill increases market opportunities and technical assistance for local farmers and small market operators. Is this likely to create jobs? — The expansion of market opportunities for local farmers may lead to increased agricultural employment.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increasing benefit amounts for seniors and WIC participants helps alleviate food insecurity among low-income households.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill provides technical assistance to help rural markets and farmers expand their capacity.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By increasing funding for nutrition programs, the bill helps improve access to healthy food as a component of public health.
- 6/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Introduced in Senate