Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB1221

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/19/26
• Refer: 3/19/26
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to amend 7.33 (1) (c), 13.172 (1), 13.62 (2), 13.94 (4) (a) 1., 13.95 (intro.), 16.002 (2), 16.004 (4), 16.004 (5), 16.004 (12) (a), 16.01 (1), 16.045 (1) (a), 16.41 (4), 16.417 (1) (b), 16.52 (7), 16.528 (1) (a), 16.53 (2), 16.54 (9) (a) 1., 16.70 (2), 16.75 (1m), 16.765 (1), 16.765 (2), 16.765 (4), 16.765 (5), 16.765 (6), 16.765 (7) (intro.), 16.765 (7) (d), 16.765 (8), 16.838 (1) (b), 16.85 (2), 16.865 (8), 23.175 (1) (b), 25.50 (1) (d), 71.26 (1) (be), 77.54 (9a) (a), 100.45 (1) (dm), 230.03 (3), 281.75 (4) (b) 3., 285.59 (1) (b) and 323.265 (1) (a); to create 19.42 (10) (qm), 20.194, 40.02 (54) (k), 70.11 (38p) and chapter 235 of the statutes; Relating to: creating the Wisconsin Public Food Administration Authority and making an appropriation. (FE)

Summary

AB1221 creates the Wisconsin Public Food Administration Authority, a new public body corporate and politic charged with expanding access to affordable, nutritious food through a statewide public food distribution network and the development of public grocery stores. The authority would be governed by a six-member board and given broad powers to hire staff, contract, acquire property, accept grants and loans, and set fees and operating rules. Its mission is explicitly framed around lowering food costs, stabilizing prices, supporting workers, and prioritizing food-insecure communities. The bill establishes a process for local governmental units, including counties, cities, towns, villages, and tribal governments, to apply to join the network and host a public grocery store. Applications would be reviewed for feasibility based on factors such as local food insecurity, grocery-cost burden, and distance to the nearest full-service grocery store. If approved, the authority could provide grants and logistical support for development and operations. The bill also requires annual reporting to the legislature on performance, finances, and recommended statutory changes.

Impact

The bill would add a new chapter to the Wisconsin statutes and create a new state authority with significant administrative, contracting, and spending powers. It also amends numerous existing statutes to recognize the Wisconsin Public Food Administration Authority as a state agency or authority for purposes including fiscal oversight, procurement, nondiscrimination requirements, tax treatment, property exemptions, and legislative reporting. The bill includes a continuing appropriation of $30 million for operations and $70 million for grants to public grocery stores, making it a major new state-funded program affecting local governments, grocery operators, workers, suppliers, and consumers in food-insecure areas.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed positively by its sponsors as a food-access and anti-hunger initiative, with a strong emphasis on affordability, public investment, and community support. However, the bill failed to advance, indicating that it did not secure the support needed under the legislative process. No committee transcript or recorded votes are available in the provided context, so the broader discussion record is limited to the bill’s ambitious policy design and its ultimate failure to pass.

Contention

The main points of contention likely concern the scope and cost of creating a new statewide public grocery system, the size of the proposed appropriation, and the level of state control over local grocery operations. The bill gives the authority broad discretion over pricing, store standards, amenities, and even temporary closure or management transfer of stores, which could raise concerns about government overreach, operational feasibility, and market competition. Supporters would likely emphasize food insecurity, consumer affordability, and worker protections, while critics may question whether the model is practical, fiscally sustainable, or appropriate as a state function.