Bill > HR8424

This bill, titled the "Promoting Access to Local Agriculture Act of 2026," requires the Secretary of Agriculture to simplify the application process for farmers and ranchers who want to sell their products as vendors in several federal nutrition programs. These "covered nutrition programs" include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and its associated farmers' market nutrition program, and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program. The Secretary must create a single application form that farmers can use for all these programs, or develop a system that shares a farmer's approval information between programs, essentially pre-qualifying them for others. Additionally, the bill mandates a streamlined process for these farmers to handle benefit payments using standardized technology, like a single piece of equipment or a mobile app, and requires that any technology provided to farmers' markets and similar direct-to-consumer markets be suitable for their needs, including wireless or mobile options. The Secretary must also report on the progress of these changes within one year of the bill's enactment.