Michigan Senate Bill SB0182

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/18/25
• Refer: 3/18/25
• Report Pass: 10/30/25
• Engrossed: 10/30/25
• Refer: 10/30/25

Caption

Appropriations: supplemental; appropriations for multiple departments and branches for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Creates appropriation act.

Summary

SB 182 is a supplemental appropriations bill for fiscal year 2025-2026 that provides $71 million in state general fund spending to support food assistance-related programs. The bill includes $1 million for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for the Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Bucks program, and $70 million for the Department of Health and Human Services for emergency food-related supports. Within DHHS, the bill directs $50 million to an emergency assistance fund to increase the food-purchasing power of low-income individuals and households, $10 million for emergency food bank grants, and $10 million for the Michigan Agricultural Surplus System to distribute surplus produce to low-income residents. The bill also specifies that the emergency assistance funds are available only if federal food assistance benefit authority expires or is no longer available, and it limits purchases to food and beverages intended for human consumption, excluding alcohol, tobacco, and hot or ready-to-eat foods.

Impact

The bill amends state spending authority by adding one-time, general fund appropriations and setting conditions on how the funds may be used. It does not create new programs in statute, but it directs DHHS and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to administer specific food access and anti-hunger initiatives under the Michigan Management and Budget Act. The bill also establishes spending priorities, geographic distribution requirements for food bank grants, and a contingency trigger tied to the availability of federal food assistance benefits.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was generally supported, passing the Senate on third reading by a 27-4 vote. The bill’s structure and purpose indicate broad agreement around using state funds to bolster food security, support food banks, and help low-income households access food. No committee transcript is available, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the vote margin suggests overall favorable sentiment with some opposition.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be the bill’s reliance on state general fund dollars for food assistance, especially the $50 million emergency assistance allocation that activates only if federal food benefit authority lapses. Potential concerns may also involve the scope of eligible purchases, the use of electronic benefit transfer systems, and how funds are distributed geographically among food banks and related programs. The 4 no votes in the Senate indicate some disagreement, but the record provided does not identify the specific objections or the lawmakers who raised them.