Farmers Markets for Food Deserts Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6343
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
Introduced: 2016-11-17
Policy area: Taxation
Latest action: action_date: 2016-12-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-11-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Farmers Markets for Food Deserts Act of 2016 </b></p> <p>This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income amounts received by the taxpayer from the sale of locally and regionally produced agricultural products to members of the general public at a fixed location (other than a retail store) in an underserved community. (Underserved communities are located in areas of concentrated poverty with limited access to fresh locally or regionally grown foods.) </p> <p>The bill also amends the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 to specify that grants or other assistance provided under the Farmers' Market and Local Food Promotion Program may be used to pay any fees associated with obtaining a permit to sell locally and regionally produced agricultural products at a farmers' market located in an underserved community. </p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6343 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 17, 2016 Mr. Veasey (for himself and Ms. Norton ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means , and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage the sale of locally and regionally produced agricultural products in underserved communities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Farmers Markets for Food Deserts Act of 2016 . 2. Agricultural product sales in underserved communities (a) In general Part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting before section 140 the following new section: 139G. Agricultural product sales in underserved communities (a) In general Gross income does not include amounts received by the taxpayer which are derived from qualified agricultural food product sales. (b) Qualified agricultural food product sales For purposes of this section, the term qualified agricultural food product sale means the sale of locally and regionally produced agricultural products (as such term is used in section 6 of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 ( 7 U.S.C. 3005 ), as in effect on the date of the enactment of this section) by the taxpayer to members of the general public at a fixed location (other than a retail store) located in a community described in subsection (e)(1) of such section, as in effect on such date of enactment. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting before the item relating to section 140: Sec. 139G. Agricultural product sales in underserved communities. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016. 3. Clarification of use of grant funds under Farmers’ Market and Local Food Promotion Program Section 6(f) of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 ( 7 U.S.C. 3005(f) ) is amended— (1) in the subsection heading, by striking Funds requirements for and inserting Use of funds by ; (2) in paragraph (1), in the paragraph heading, by inserting requirement after funds ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) Farmers’ market permit fees An eligible entity may use a grant or other assistance provided under this section for purposes of paying any fees associated with obtaining a permit to sell locally and regionally produced agricultural products at a farmers’ market located in an area described in subsection (e)(1). .