2024 FMI State Issues Retreat

Please see below for our agenda. Meeting materials will be posted here following the meeting. 

Click here to view the attendee list. 

Meeting Presentations

• Federal Issues Update (Jennifer Hatcher, FMI)
• Virginia Agriculture and Food Policy Overview (Joe Guthrie, VDACS Commissioner)
• State Packaging Policy Overview (Rob Keith, Membership and Policy Director, AMERIPEN) 
• SNAP Update 2024 (Andrea Gold, USDA FNS)
  • Below is the cost of living memo that defines the SNAP benefit levels for fiscal year 25, and related materials: 
    • SNAP COLA Memo FY25 (azureedge.us)
    • Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Information | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)
    • USDA Food Plans: Monthly Cost of Food Reports | Food and Nutrition Service
  • And the open comment period (until August 27) is for the interim final rule on Summer EBT.  The interim final rule is currently in effect but will be finalized by the Agency after the comments on the interim rule are received and considered:
    • Interim Final Rule: Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)
    • Regulations.gov  (FNS-2023-0029-0077)
• Serving a Sophisticated Grocery Shopper (Leslie Sarasin, FMI President & CEO)

Meeting Materials

• Alabama HB 358 - Relating to child care and workforce development; to establish the employer tax credit and child care provider tax credit; to make legislative findings.
• Alabama SB 231 - Labor organizations, employer's eligibility for economic development incentives conditioned upon employer refraining from certain practices relating to labor organizations, oversight provided
• FMI - No Swipe Fees on Sales Tax Issue Paper for Pennyslvania 
• Maryland SB 760 - Consumer Protection - Retail Sales of Gift Cards (Gift Card Scams Prevention Act of 2024)
• Maryland Retailers Alliance - Summary of the Gift Card Scam Prevention Act of 2024
• FMI Crisis Management Guide: Civil Unrest
• FMI Crisis Management Guide: De-Escalation
• FMI Crisis Communications Guide 2019
• FMI Active Assailant Preparedness and Response Guide for the Food Retail Industry

 

FMI State Issues Retreat Agenda 

Monday, August 5, 2024

All Business Sessions held in the Faulkner Room

2:00 pm – Welcome, Antitrust Statement and Federal Issues Update 

3:00 pm - Workforce and Labor Issue Discussion 

5:30 pm - Reception (Terrace 4)

7:00pm - On-Site Dinner (Terrace Ballroom)

Tuesday, August 6

7:00 am - Breakfast (Riverside Hearth)

All Business Sessions held in the Faukner Room

8:00 am - Introductions and Antitrust Statement

8:15 am - Baby Food Testing and Labeling 

8:45 am - Ingredient Bans

9:30 am - Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestery, Matthew Lohr

10:30 am - Break

10:45 am - USDA FNS Panel - Andrea Gold, Shelly Pierce, Anne Fiala, USDA (Summer EBT, Chip migration, SNAP food choice, etc... )

12:15 pm - Lunch (Riverside Hearth) 

1:15 pm - State Packaging Legislative Overview, Rob Keith, Ameripen, followed by Environmental Issue Discussion

2:45 pm - No Swipe Fees on Sales Tax

3:30 pm - Alcohol Issues: FMI Wine Study, Ready to Drink, etc.. 

5:15 pm - Meet in lobby to depart via FMI transportation to Stone Tower Winery

6:00 pm - Reception and Dinner at Stone Tower Winery

Wednesday, August 7

7:30 am – Breakfast (Riverside Hearth)

All Business Sessions held in the Faukner Room

8:30 am Leslie Sarasin, FMI CEO: Serving a Sophisticated Grocery Shopper

9:30 am - Artificial Intelligence

10:00 am - Retail Crime / Workplace Safety 

10:45 am - Pharmacy

11:15 am - "Leftovers" 

12:00 pm - Meeting Adjourns 

 

Thank you to our Sponors!