Gov. Evers Signs Key Bill to Support State’s Food Assistance Program, Prevent Wisconsin Taxpayers from Paying Over $200 Million a Year in Potential Penalty Fees to Trump Administration

Under new federal changes, thanks to President Trump and Republicans’ so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ states will be forced to pay for a higher share of SNAP benefit costs if FoodShare payment error rates exceed certain thresholds. In Wisconsin, this could cost taxpayers an additional over $200 million every year in penalty fees to the Trump Administration, on top of the more than $284 million Wisconsin taxpayers are already estimated to pay in future budgets. Gov. Evers has repeatedly urged Republican lawmakers to take quick action on the Evers Administration’s requests, which were among the governor’s top legislative priorities and highlighted in his 2026 State of the State address.

“After months of urging and asking the Legislature to approve these funds, I am glad to be able to sign this bill today so we can continue to provide for the over 700,000 Wisconsinites who rely on FoodShare and depend on the state to support this critical program and keep our error rates low,” said Gov. Evers. “In spite of the chaos at the federal level and the continued attacks on our FoodShare program, I am proud of the work my administration has done over the past year to ensure our kids, families, veterans, and seniors across our state receive the resources they need to access basic food and groceries. As long as I am governor, I will continue to do everything in my power to protect Wisconsin families and taxpayers from the harmful decisions of the Trump Administration.”

Gov. Evers has been asking the Wisconsin State Legislature to approve funds to prevent Wisconsin taxpayers from having to pay penalty fees to the Trump Administration since August, and after months of bipartisan negotiations between legislative leaders and the Evers Administration, as amended, AB 180 would appropriate over $72 million to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) for key resources, including funding for the FoodShare Employment and Training program, additional administrative costs that have been shifted onto the state, quality control initiatives to help keep FoodShare error rates low and avoid federal penalties, and more. During bipartisan budget negotiations, Republican leaders gave the governor their word that they would be willing to work together to address outstanding challenges caused by the ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’

“Ensuring the FoodShare program has the resources we need to meet new federal requirements is critical to maintaining access to essential nutrition benefits for Wisconsin families and saving Wisconsin taxpayer dollars. We are grateful to the Legislature for passing AB 180 with bipartisan support and to Gov. Evers for signing it into law,” said DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson. “DHS remains committed to administering the FoodShare program with accuracy, accountability, and in full alignment with federal requirements, while providing critical food assistance to Wisconsinites.”

Last year, Congressional Republicans passed President Trump’s signature legislation, the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ which cut essential SNAP food assistance by about 20 percent by increasing red tape, gutting nutrition education programs, and forcing states to pay more for SNAP programs like Wisconsin’s FoodShare. Due to these changes, Wisconsinites are starting to lose access to basic food necessities, and independent grocers and convenience stores, which already operate on thin margins and are often the main source of food for Wisconsinites in rural areas, are increasingly concerned about their bottom line and keeping their doors open.

The funding appropriated through AB 180 would include $32.3 million to cover the increase in the state’s share of administrative costs as a result of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ which shifted 75 percent of administrative costs to states, as opposed to the current 50 percent, $16.1 million for additional DHS and county staff positions to achieve and maintain a FoodShare error rate below six percent and avoid federal penalties, and $20.7 million to support an increase in participation in the FoodShare Employment and Training program due to expanded work requirements.

The approval of these funds has been publicly supported by more than 160 nonpartisan organizations that have asked the Legislature to take immediate action by providing funding for these changes, noting that “additional delays in providing this funding will put Wisconsin taxpayers at risk of paying for increased costs and will negatively impact communities, businesses, and SNAP recipients across Wisconsin.”

More information regarding the state’s FoodShare program, including how to apply for and manage benefits, is available on DHS’s website.