Seniors farmers' market nutrition program

(a) In general Section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking Of the funds and inserting the following: (1) Mandatory funding Of the funds; (B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by inserting (referred to in this section as the Secretary) after Agriculture; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out and expand the seniors farmers' market nutrition program— (A) not less than $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; (B) not less than $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and (C) not less than $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2029 through 2031.; (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting and adults with disabilities (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)) before the semicolon at the end; (3) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) as subsections (f) through (i), respectively; and (4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Benefit amounts Under the seniors farmers' market nutrition program— (1) the minimum individual benefit shall be $35; and (2) the maximum individual benefit shall be $80. (d) Certification period The certification period for participants in the seniors farmers' market nutrition program shall be 36 months. (e) Modernization grants (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Senior Hunger Prevention Act, the Secretary shall establish a grant program under which the Secretary shall award grants to State agencies, including Tribal organizations (as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012)) and territories, that administer the senior farmers’ market nutrition program to modernize program operations, including— (A) by transitioning from paper-based coupons to an electronic transaction technology, such as a web-based service or installable software; and (B) by increasing benefit use at farmers’ markets. (2) Grant amount (A) In general The amount of a grant awarded under paragraph (1) shall not exceed $350,000. (B) Supplies Not more than $25,000 may be used to carry out subparagraph (F) of paragraph (3). (3) Eligible expenses An entity receiving a grant under paragraph (1) may use the grant for— (A) costs associated with the procurement of electronic transaction technology; (B) planning costs, including personnel costs, relating to electronic transaction technology procurement and implementation; (C) costs associated with evaluating the impact of transitioning from coupon-based operations to an electronic transaction technology; (D) training, outreach, and promotional material costs, including the costs associated with translating materials; (E) maintenance and operation of electronic transaction technology procured using the grant during the period of performance of the grant; (F) subject to paragraph (2)(B), the purchase of supplies needed to perform electronic transactions onsite; and (G) additional costs associated with modernizing program operations, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (4) Reports Each entity that receives a grant under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service quarterly performance progress reports on the use of the grant. (5) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter.. (b) Income guidelines The Secretary of Agriculture shall revise section 249.6(a)(3) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, to ensure that income eligibility under that section is at or below 200 percent of the poverty income guidelines.