MODERN WIC Act of 2025
Key claim: The MODERN WIC Act of 2025 permanently allows remote (phone/video) WIC certification and nutritional-risk evaluation and permits mail or remote issuance of WIC EBT benefits instead of requiring in-person visits.
Abstract
(HR1464 · 119th Congress) More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2025 or the MODERN WIC Act of 2025 This bill permanently allows individuals to remotely certify their eligibility for, and receive benefits through, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Specifically, the bill requires that a state agency allow an individual seeking a WIC certification, recertification, or a nutritional risk evaluation to do so by phone or through video teleconference, in addition to the in-person option. A state agency has 90 days to collect data for a nutritional risk evaluation for a remotely certified individual. Further, a state agency may consider an applicant who meets the income eligibility standards to be temporarily eligible on an interim basis to participate in the program and may certify the individual for immediate participation without waiting for a nutritional risk evaluation. The bill also allows states to provide benefits on WIC electronic benefit transfer cards through mail or remote issuance instead of requiring participants to pick up or reload benefits in person at a WIC office. Further, the Department of Agriculture must report to Congress about the use of remote technologies and other digital tools in the WIC program. Currently, individuals are generally required to be physically present to certify their WIC eligibility and receive benefits, with exceptions. The Food and Nutrition Service has temporarily waived these requirements and allowed remote certification and benefits using authorities that were provided by laws that were enacted to address COVID-19. Latest action (2025-02-21): Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Why this matters
WIC serves roughly 6 million pregnant people, infants, and young children, and in-person certification has historically been a barrier to enrollment and retention, particularly for rural participants and working parents. Making COVID-era remote certification and EBT issuance flexibilities permanent could reduce participant burden and administrative friction without altering benefit levels, though it also shifts how states verify nutritional risk and identity. The change is administrative in nature and is not expected to directly affect farm revenues or retail food prices.