Bill > SB560

This bill establishes the Pennsylvania Preferred® Food Bucks Program, which aims to provide financial incentives to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who purchase specific healthy food items. The program will be administered by a Pennsylvania nonprofit organization that receives a grant from the state department. To be eligible for the grant, the organization must submit a plan for implementing the program at various food retail locations like farmers markets, farm stands, and grocery stores. The program will offer SNAP recipients a 40-cent incentive for every dollar spent on targeted food items, which include fruits and vegetables in fresh, canned, dried, or frozen form, with no added sugars, fats, oils, or salt. Applicants must also commit to coordinating marketing efforts with the existing Pennsylvania Preferred® Program and prioritize retailers selling Pennsylvania-grown agricultural products. The program can be funded through federal grants like the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, state appropriations, and other available funding sources. The goal is to support SNAP recipients in purchasing nutritious foods while also benefiting local farmers and businesses.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=560