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Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (codified beginning at 7 U.S.C. 2011) by adding a new section titled 'Dairy nutrition incentive program' (section 31) establishing definitions, grant/cooperative agreement authority, evaluation and reporting requirements, funding, and transition provisions.
Repeals 7 U.S.C. 2026a (section 4208 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, establishing healthy fluid milk incentives projects) effective 1 year after the Secretary certifies completion of the transition of those projects into the new dairy nutrition incentive program.
Establishes a new Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program inside the Food and Nutrition Act to test and scale ways to increase purchase and consumption of naturally nutrient‑rich dairy products by households using SNAP. The program funds competitive grants and cooperative agreements for eligible entities, requires independent evaluation and public reporting, converts existing healthy fluid milk incentive projects into this program, and gives the Secretary of Agriculture authority to implement, monitor, and end projects that fail to comply or show unsatisfactory results.
Adds a new section 31, "Dairy nutrition incentive program," to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
Defines key terms used in the section: "dairy product," "eligible entity" (State or local governmental entity; nonprofit organization), "fluid milk," "naturally nutrient-rich dairy" (fluid milk, yogurt and other cultured cow’s milk products, cheese), and "program."
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the dairy nutrition incentive program not later than 180 days after the date of enactment. The program must develop and test methods to increase purchase and consumption of naturally nutrient-rich dairy by members of households receiving SNAP by providing a point-of-purchase incentive when those households buy food with SNAP benefits.
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into competitive cooperative agreements or provide competitive grants to eligible entities to carry out projects that meet the program purpose. Eligible entities must apply as the Secretary requires.
Requires the Secretary to develop and publish criteria for evaluating project applications; criteria must include a scientifically based strategy to improve diet quality and nutrition outcomes through increased purchase of naturally nutrient-rich dairy.
Who is affected and how:
SNAP households: Direct beneficiaries; low‑income families and households receiving SNAP may receive financial incentives, discounts, or other supports that lower the cost of nutrient‑rich dairy products and make those items easier to choose. This aims to improve dietary intake of calcium, vitamin D, protein, and related nutrients among participants.
Retailers and food outlets that accept SNAP: Retailers (supermarkets, grocery stores, farmers markets, other approved vendors) may be asked to participate in incentive delivery at point of sale or through promotional partnerships; they may need minor technical or administrative changes (point‑of‑sale adjustments, reporting) to participate.
Grant applicants and program implementers: Nonprofits, state or local agencies, tribal entities, farmer cooperatives, food banks, and other eligible organizations (as defined in the program rules) can apply for grants or cooperative agreements to run incentive models; these organizations will receive new funding opportunities and evaluation responsibilities.
Dairy sector (producers, processors, distributors): Likely to see modest demand increases for targeted dairy products where incentives increase consumption, benefitting local dairy markets and processors depending on uptake and geographic coverage.
USDA / FNS and program administrators: Responsibility for rapid program establishment, grant competitions, monitoring, data collection, evaluation contracting, and public reporting increases administrative workload and oversight responsibilities.
Existing healthy fluid milk incentive project operators: Will be transitioned into the new program framework; subject to new reporting, evaluation, and compliance rules and to possible termination if they fail to meet program standards.
Other implications and tradeoffs:
Practical rollout depends on retailer participation, point‑of‑sale capabilities, and the ability to measure purchases reliably for evaluation.
Equity and access: The program’s benefits will be limited where fresh/nutrient‑rich dairy availability is low (food deserts) or where cultural/dietary preferences differ; design choices (which dairy products are covered, retailer types included) will affect equity of impact.
Evidence generation: Independent evaluation and public reporting can provide useful evidence on which incentive models work, informing future SNAP nutrition policy.
Fiscal/administrative: Although the bill provides funding authority, implementation requires USDA rulemaking, grant administration capacity, and evaluation contracting; program effectiveness depends on timely administrative action and adequate funding levels.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced March 13, 2025 by Amy Klobuchar · Last progress March 13, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced in Senate
