LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
200 W. Washington St., Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-0696
iga.in.gov
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6516 NOTE PREPARED: Dec 15, 2021
BILL NUMBER: SB 161 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Acceptance of WIC/SNAP at Farmers' Markets.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Yoder BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED: GENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
XDEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: The bill requires a farmers' market administrator or representative who is
responsible for managing a farmers' market that has qualified retailers to accept electronic benefit transfer
(EBT) payments and coupons from participants in the following food assistance programs:
(1) The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
(2) The women, infants, and children nutrition program (WIC).
(3) The WIC farmers' market nutrition program (FMNP).
Effective Date: July 1, 2022.
Explanation of State Expenditures: The bill will have a very minimal workload increase for the
Department of Health that oversees farmers’ markets.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures:
Explanation of Local Revenues: Farmers’ markets that apply for a grant from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) receive EBT processing equipment and a year without service fees. The software
licensing cost of about $191.40 per year would apply after the first year, and processing fees may apply when
the farmers’ market also accepts credit or debit cards through the system. This would be an additional
workload for the market owner or operator, which in some cases may be a local unit or local entity.
Additional Information - Of the 69 farmers’ markets listed by the USDA, 33 do not accept each of SNAP,
SB 161 1 WIC, and FMNP. The ownership of the these farmers’ markets is not available.
State Agencies Affected: IDOH.
Local Agencies Affected: Farmers’ markets of local units or entities.
Information Sources: https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarkets;
https://marketlink.org/assets/uploads/images/MarketLink-Grant-Summary-Fees.pdf.
Fiscal Analyst: Karen Rossen, 317-234-2106.
SB 161 2