Democratic lawmaker aims to protect Michiganders against SNAP cuts

LANSING, Mich., Nov. 3, 2025 — State Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) recently introduced House Bill 5166 to establish a charitable food tax credit program to improve food security in this state by supporting certain emergency food providers and regional food banks in innovative food resource projects and operations.

“1.4 million people in our great state rely on SNAP every month and depend on those benefits to feed themselves and their families,” Tate said. “With that reality being at risk, I feel as though it is my duty as a lawmaker to offer avenues of relief, and that’s exactly what this legislation aims to do. Food banks, soup kitchens and shelters will be strained in the coming months if this pause isn’t lifted by Republicans in Congress. My legislation would help incentivize and increase the number of food donations that organizations receive to feed our communities.”

The timely introduction came just a week after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced it was directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to pause issuing SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 because of the federal funding lapse due to the federal government shutdown.

“Michigan is the second most agriculturally diverse state in the nation. Our farms and food businesses are producing an abundance of nutritious food — so much that we waste enough each year to feed every hungry family in the state,” said Daniel Schoonmaker, executive director of Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, which launched the Advancing Food Rescue coalition at a summit in Lansing this week. “With recent increases in grocery prices, disruptions in federal funding and other pressures, the charitable food system has an increased demand for donated surplus food. Unfortunately, there are costs associated with picking, processing and managing production that make it challenging or impossible for food businesses to donate more than they already are. An appropriately sized tax credit can help address that barrier.”

This legislation, which eleven other states have already adopted similar tax credits, would allow a tax credit for the qualified wholesale value of eligible fruits, vegetables, proteins and starches donated by farmers, processors, manufacturers and wholesale food distributors to a qualified agency.

“This legislation is considered best practice nationally as a way to get surplus food to people who need it and to divert wholesome food away from landfills. It’s important to align incentives with what benefits people, and this legislation does that,” said Danielle Todd, executive director at Make Food Not Waste.

The Michigan Sustainable Business Forum has indicated that over 1.5 million tons of food that are annually disposed of in Michigan landfills constitute the single largest category of waste entering municipal landfills, with 1.2 million more tons of surplus food left unharvested or plowed back into the fields of Michigan farms.

“This bill correctly incentivizes businesses to donate surplus food to food banks so that it can be put to its highest and best use, which is to feed hungry people,” said Adrian Lewis, president and CEO of Forgotten Harvest.

In Michigan, food insecurity is a real issue and one that is surging for many children and families. Currently, 1 out of 7 children in Michigan are food insecure, meaning they may not know when their next meal will be. The number of individuals and families who will be losing access to adequate and reliable food is only set to increase with the pause on SNAP benefits, affecting 1.4 million residents right here in Michigan. 

###