Information Collection - Waivers and State Plans (WiSP)

Summary

This is a new information collection for the Waivers and State Plans (WiSP) application. WiSP will allow state agencies to request program waivers and submit State Plans to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), FNS staff to manage data provided within the application, and covers the gathering and maintenance of all supporting data from each state agency. The Waivers and State Plans (WiSP) application will support the following USDA programs and be available to all participating state agencies in each program: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC); Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP); and Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).

The purpose of (1) WIC is to provide supplemental foods, nutrition education, and health care referrals to low income, nutritionally at-risk pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five. The WIC program is authorized by the Child Nutrition Act (CNA) of 1966 (see Appendix A), as amended. WIC currently operates through a federal/state partnership in which USDA FNS provides grants to state agencies in 50 U.S. states, 6 U.S. territories, and 32 Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs). The WIC program requirements are specified in Section 17 of the CNA and WIC regulations at 7 CFR part 246 (see Appendix B).

(2) FMNP is designed to provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants and expand awareness, use of, and sales at farmers markets. FMNP currently operates through a federal/state partnership in which FNS provides grants to state agencies in 39 U.S. states, three U.S. territories, and eight ITOs. FMNP requirements are specified in Section 17(m)(8) of the CNA and FMNP regulations at 7 CFR part 248 (see Appendix C) and WIC Farmer's Market Nutrition Act of 1992 (see Appendix D).

(3) SFMNP is designed to provide low-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs and support the development of new and additional farmers markets, roadside stands, and community supported agricultural programs. SFMNP currently operates through a federal/state partnership in which FNS provides grants in 45 U.S. states, three U.S. territories, and eight ITOs. SFMNP requirements are specified in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as amended, (see Appendix E) and SFMNP regulations at 7 CFR part 249 (see Appendix F).

Request for Comments

Comments regarding this information collection received by Oct. 27, 2025 will be considered.

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website reginfo.gov. Find this particular information collection by selecting "Currently under 30-day Review-Open for Public Comments" or by using the search function. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Need and Use of the Information

State agencies are required to submit state plans annually per the guidelines of the respective programs, as an application or prerequisite to the receipt of federal funds from FNS.