MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) today applauded members of the State Assembly for passing legislation to stabilize the FoodShare program and ensure continued access to nutritious dairy products, including high-protein options like dairy-based protein bars, to clarify PFAS liability standards for food processors, and to improve agricultural roads.
Bipartisan approval of Assembly Bill 180 (AB 180) advances a $69 million investment to shore up Wisconsin’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in the state as FoodShare. The funding responds to recent federal policy changes shifting 75 percent of SNAP administrative costs to states beginning October 1. Without legislative action, Wisconsin could face federal penalties exceeding $200 million annually, depending on error rates.
“FoodShare is both a hunger relief program and a powerful economic engine,” said Rebekah Sweeney, Senior Director of Programs & Policy for WCMA. “Spending tens of millions now to avoid losing up to hundreds of millions of dollars later – and to protect more than $1 billion in annual federal food purchasing power – is fiscal responsibility. It protects taxpayers, families, farmers, and food manufacturers across Wisconsin.”
Each year, more than $1 billion in FoodShare benefits are redeemed at Wisconsin grocery stores. A substantial share of those dollars – conservatively, hundreds of millions – is spent on Wisconsin-produced and Wisconsin-processed foods, including dairy products. That spending supports demand for Wisconsin milk, jobs in cheese plants and dairy processing facilities, trucking and cold storage networks, and retail jobs in rural towns and urban neighborhoods alike.
The bill also establishes limits the use of FoodShare dollars to purchase certain products – soda and candy, and via an amendment from bill author Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie), it safeguards dairy-rich protein bars from being inadvertently misclassified as candy under an old statutory definition.
Also today, lawmakers approved AB 131, authored by Rep. Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz), unlocking more than $130 million in PFAS remediation funding and providing critical clarity regarding PFAS liability under Wisconsin law. WCMA members strongly support its provisions to ensure that food processors operating in compliance with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources permits are not unfairly subjected to liability for PFAS contamination they did not cause.
Many Wisconsin dairy processors manage wastewater under permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, including Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permits that establish strict monitoring and reporting requirements to protect water quality. The Assembly-approved language appropriately exempts farms and food processing facilities from PFAS liability when wastewater management was conducted in compliance with those permits.
“Dairy processors are committed to environmental stewardship and to maintaining the trust of the communities where we operate,” Sweeney said. “This legislation strikes an appropriate balance, protecting water quality while providing regulatory certainty to businesses that follow the rules. Clear standards strengthen compliance, support investment, and sustain the rural communities that depend on dairy processing jobs.”
The Assembly also voted to advance AB 439, authored by Rep. Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City), strengthening the $150 million biennial Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP). Since its creation, ARIP has helped towns and counties repair deteriorating rural roads critical to milk pickup, feed delivery, and employee access. This update improves the program by allowing a proactive, engineer-certified analysis to qualify roads for funding – preventing costly detours, supply chain disruptions, and safety risks for the roughly 26,000 milk trucks traveling Wisconsin’s local roads each day.
“ARIP is working, and this bill makes a good program even better,” said Sweeney. “By allowing communities to fix roads before they crumble or are posted for weight limits, lawmakers are protecting farmers, processors, drivers, and taxpayers alike. Strong rural roads keep milk moving, support local economies, and ensure Wisconsin’s dairy supply chain remains safe, efficient, and sustainable.”
WCMA thanked Assembly leaders and members from both parties for advancing these three measures, as well as the Governor and Senate leaders who engaged in end-of-session negotiations. Members urge swift action in the Senate to send these proposals to the Governor for final consideration.
