Amendment AA24-ASA2-AB50

AB50-ASA2-AA24,3 Section 3. 49.79 (7s) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,6,8 49.79 (7s) Payment processing program. The department shall administer a payment processing program to provide to farmers’ markets and farmers who sell directly to consumers electronic benefit transfer and credit and debit card processing equipment and services, including electronic benefit transfer for the food stamp program. To participate in the payment processing program, the vendor that is under contract to process the electronic benefit transfer and credit and debit card transactions shall also process any local purchasing incentives, even if those local purchasing incentives are funded by a local 3rd-party entity.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,6,9 6. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,6,11 “Section 9202. Fiscal changes; Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,6,17 (1) Agricultural economist position authority. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (8) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025- 26 is increased by $73,400 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $97,900 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the department by 1.0 GPR position for an agricultural economist.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,6,18 7. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,6,19 “Section 13. 20.115 (4) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,6,21 20.115 (4) (ar) Value-added agricultural practices. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for value-added agricultural practices under s. 93.61.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,14 Section 14. 93.61 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,7,2 93.61 Value-added agricultural practices. (1) Definition. In this section, “value-added agricultural product” means a farm product that satisfies any of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,7,3 (a) The product has undergone a change in physical state.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,7,4 (b) The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,7,5 (c) The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,7,6 (d) The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,7,8 (e) The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,7,12 (2) Value-added agricultural products. The department may provide education and technical assistance related to promoting and implementing agricultural practices that produce value-added agricultural products, including by doing all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,7,21 (a) Assistance for organic farming practices. Providing education and technical assistance related to organic farming practices, including business and market development assistance; collaborating with organic producers, industry participants, and local organizations that coordinate organic farming; and stimulating interest and investment in organic production. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (ar) to organic producers, industry participants, and local organizations that coordinate organic farming. The department may award a grant to an organic producer, industry participant, or local organization under this paragraph for any of the following purposes:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,7,23 1. Providing education and technical assistance related to implementing organic farming practices.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,8,1 2. Helping to create organic farming plans.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,8,2 3. Assisting farmers to transition to organic farming.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,8,5 (b) Grazing grants. Awarding grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (f) to appropriate entities to provide education and training to farmers about best practices related to grazing.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,8,6 (c) Promotion. Helping producers market value-added agricultural products.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,8,8 (3) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,8,9 8. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,8,10 “Section 15. 20.115 (4) (at) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,8,12 20.115 (4) (at) Farm to fork program. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for farm to fork grants under s. 93.63.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,16 Section 16. 93.63 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,8,20 93.63 Farm to fork program. (1) Definition. In this section, “farm to fork program” means a program to connect entities that are not school districts and that have cafeterias to nearby farms to provide locally produced fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and other nutritious, locally produced foods in meals and snacks; to help the public develop healthy eating habits; to provide nutritional and agricultural education; and to improve farmers’ incomes and direct access to markets.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,2 (2) Grants. (a) The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (at) to businesses, universities, hospitals, and other entities that are not school districts and that have cafeterias for the creation and expansion of farm to fork programs. The department shall give preference to proposals that are innovative or that provide models that other entities can adopt.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,7 (b) In awarding grants under this section, the department shall promote agricultural development and farm profitability by supporting the development and adoption of practices and agribusiness opportunities that involve the production of value-added agricultural products. For purposes of this paragraph, “value-added agricultural product” means a farm product that satisfies any of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,8 1. The product has undergone a change in physical state.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,9 2. The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,10 3. The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,11 4. The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,13 5. The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,15 (c) The department may award grants under this subsection for projects that do any of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,18 1. Create, expand, diversify, or promote production, processing, marketing, and distribution of food produced in this state for sale to entities in this state other than school districts.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,21 2. Create, expand, or renovate facilities, including purchases of equipment for the facilities, that would ensure the use of food produced in this state in locations in this state other than schools.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9,23 3. Provide, expand, or promote training for food service personnel, farmers, and distributors.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,10,1 4. Provide, expand, or promote nutritional and agricultural education.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,10,3 (d) The department shall consult with interested persons to establish grant priorities for each fiscal year.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,10,6 (3) Reports. At least annually, the department shall report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) and to the secretary on the needs and opportunities for farm to fork programs.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,10,8 (4) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,10,9 9. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,10,11 “Section 9202. Fiscal changes; Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,10,16 (1) Something Special from Wisconsin expenditure increase. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (3) (L), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025-26 is increased by $200,000 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $200,000.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,10,17 10. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,10,18 “Section 17. 20.115 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,10,20 20.115 (3) (e) Food waste reduction grants. The amounts in the schedule for providing food waste reduction grants under s. 93.53.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,18 Section 18. 93.53 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,11,5 93.53 Food waste reduction grants. (1) The department shall provide grants for food waste reduction pilot projects that have an objective of preventing food waste, redirecting surplus food to hunger relief organizations, and composting food waste. In awarding grants under this section, the department shall give preference to proposals that serve census tracts for which the median household income is below the statewide median household income and in which no grocery store is located.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,11,7 (2) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,11,8 11. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,11,9 “Section 9247. Fiscal changes; University of Wisconsin System.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,11,18 (1) Veterinary diagnostic laboratory positions. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System under s. 20.285 (1) (fj), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025-26 is increased by $568,500 to increase the authorized FTE positions assigned to the veterinary diagnostic laboratory by 6.0 GPR microbiologist positions and 1.0 GPR sample receiving technician position. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System under s. 20.285 (1) (fj), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $568,500 to provide funding for the positions authorized under this subsection.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,11,19 12. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,11,20 “Section 9247. Fiscal changes; University of Wisconsin System.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,12,5 (1) Veterinary diagnostic laboratory; compensation adjustments. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System under s. 20.285 (1) (fj), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025-26 is increased by $217,300 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $217,300 to provide funding for compensation adjustments to achieve compensation equity for 8 University of Wisconsin System employees assigned to the veterinary diagnostic laboratory as pathologists, specialists, or section heads.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,12,6 13. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,12,8 “Section 9202. Fiscal changes; Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,12,13 (1) Agricultural economist position authority. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (3) (at), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025- 26 is increased by $16,800 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $16,800 to to support administration of the farm-to-school program.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,12,14 14. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,12,15 “Section 19. 93.425 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,12,21 93.425 (3) Of the moneys appropriated under s. 20.115 (3) (b), the center for international agribusiness marketing shall ensure that $2,500,000 is expended for the objective specified in sub. (2) (a), $1,250,000 is expended for the objective specified in sub. (2) (b), and $1,250,000 is expended for the objective specified in sub. (2) (c). The center may not expend more than $1,000,000 under the program in any fiscal year.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,12,22 15. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,13,2 “Section 9202. Fiscal changes; Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,13,9 (1) County conservation staffing — general fund. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (7) (c), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025- 26 is increased by $2,759,000 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $2,990,000 for support of counties’ 3rd local land conservation personnel positions under the soil and water resource management program under s. 92.14.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,13,16 (2) County conservation staffing — environmental fund. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (7) (qe), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025-26 is increased by $3,372,100 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026- 27 is increased by $3,654,400 for support of counties’ first and 2nd local land conservation personnel positions under the soil and water resource management program under s. 92.14.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,13,17 16. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,13,18 “Section 20. 20.115 (7) (qf) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,14,7 20.115 (7) (qf) Soil and water management; aids. From the environmental fund, the amounts in the schedule for cost-sharing grants and contracts under the soil and water resource management program under s. 92.14, but not for the support of local land conservation personnel, and for producer-led watershed protection grants under s. 93.59. Prior to fiscal year 2021-22, the department shall allocate funds, in an amount that does not exceed $750,000 in each fiscal year, for the producer-led watershed protection grants. Beginning in In fiscal year years 2021-22 to 2024-25, the department shall allocate funds, in an amount that does not exceed $1,000,000 in each fiscal year, for the producer-led watershed protection grants. Beginning in fiscal year 2025-26, the department shall allocate funds, in an amount that does not exceed $1,250,000 in each fiscal year, for the producer-led watershed protection grants.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,14,8 17. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,14,9 “Section 21. 20.115 (7) (tm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,14,13 20.115 (7) (tm) Farmland preservation planning grants, working lands fund. From the working lands fund, the amounts in the schedule for farmland preservation planning grants under s. 91.10 (6) and for farmland preservation implementation grants under s. 91.10 (7).

AB50-ASA2-AA24,22 Section 22. 91.10 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,14,16 91.10 (title) County plan required; planning and implementation grants.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,23 Section 23. 91.10 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,14,20 91.10 (7) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (tm), the department may award implementation grants to counties for implementing a county’s certified farmland preservation plan.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,15,2 (b) The department shall enter into a contract with a county to which it awards an implementation grant under par. (a) before the department distributes any grant funds to the county. In the contract, the department shall identify the costs that are eligible for reimbursement through the grant.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,15,5 (c) The department may distribute grant funds under this subsection only after the county shows that it has incurred costs that are eligible for reimbursement under par. (b).”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,15,6 18. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,15,7 “Section 24. 91.84 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,15,9 91.84 (1) (b) The department may designate agricultural enterprise areas with a combined area of not more than 2,000,000 3,000,000 acres of land.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,15,10 19. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,15,11 “Section 25. 20.115 (7) (u) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,15,14 20.115 (7) (u) Planning grants for regional biodigesters. From the environmental fund, the amounts in the schedule for providing planning grants for establishing regional biodigesters under s. 93.74.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,26 Section 26. 93.74 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,15,18 93.74 Planning grants for regional biodigesters. (1) Grant program. From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (u), the department shall provide planning grants for establishing regional biodigesters.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,15,20 (2) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.”.