Assembly Bill 578 aims to ensure continued funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) supplemental food program during a federal government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025. The bill proposes to create a new provision under section 20.435 (1) (en) of the statutes, which will allocate a sufficient sum for WIC program benefits in the event of a federal appropriation lapse. This funding will allow the Department of Health Services (DHS) to maintain WIC benefits at the same level as before the shutdown, despite the lack of federal funding.

Additionally, the bill includes a provision that allows DHS to continue providing benefits to WIC participants at the pre-shutdown level until federal legislation is enacted to restore funding under 24 USC 1786. The newly created section 20.435 (1) (en) will be repealed on October 1, 2026, marking the end of this temporary funding measure. Overall, the bill seeks to protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of federal funding interruptions by ensuring state-level support for essential nutritional assistance.