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HB 1194

AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES: Provides with respect to the Healthy Food Retail Act (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Bayham and 28 co-sponsors

Expands funding and scope to address food deserts, enabling grants/loans for retailers and projects that improve access to affordable fresh foods in underserved Louisiana communiti

Vetoed by the Governor.
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Bill Summary · HB 1194

Summary of HB 1194 (Louisiana, 2026) – Healthy Food Retail Act

Addressed bill: HB 1194, Session 2026, Louisiana

Jurisdiction: Louisiana

Purpose and intent
- Expand and enhance Louisiana’s Healthy Food Retail Act to improve access to affordable fresh food in underserved communities and food deserts.
- Establish a broader, more proactive financing framework and planning mechanism to support healthy food retailers, with a focus on Louisiana-grown produce and local economic development.

Key provisions and changes
- Expanded scope and definitions
- Adds emphasis that limited food access constrains public health, neighborhood stability, and local economic growth.
- Applies program provisions specifically to food deserts in addition to underserved communities.
- Defines “food desert” as:
- In urban areas: a low-income census tract where at least 500 persons or 33% of residents reside more than one mile from a supermarket.
- In rural areas: more than ten miles from a supermarket.
- Maintains definitions for funding (grants, loans, or a combination), healthy food retailers (retailers selling high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables at competitive prices), and program (public-private partnership managed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, LDAF).

  • Program administration and funding

    • LDAF shall establish and administer a financing program to provide grants and loans to healthy food retailers and related projects that increase access to fresh produce and other affordable healthy foods in underserved communities and food deserts.
    • Prioritization: Projects that increase access to affordable fresh food and demonstrate community demand, implementation capacity, and long-term sustainability will receive priority, to the extent funding is available.
    • Administrative structure: LDAF may contract with one or more qualified nonprofit organizations or community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to administer all or portions of the program via grants or public-private partnerships. Partnerships may involve raising funds, marketing, evaluating applicants, awarding decisions, underwriting loans, operating a revolving loan fund, monitoring compliance and impact.
    • Coordination: LDAF and partners shall coordinate with complementary nutrition assistance and education programs.

  • Eligible activities and project scope

    • Funding may cover a broader set of food access projects, including:
    • Farmers markets and public markets
    • Food cooperatives
    • Mobile markets and delivery projects
    • Distribution projects that enable regular access to fresh produce for underserved communities or food deserts
    • In addition to the above, the program now explicitly includes funding for food deserts.

  • Funding mechanism and eligibility

    • Funding will be competitive and may be awarded on a one-time basis or through ongoing competitive funding (not limited to a single one-time award).
    • Eligibility criteria require that projects benefit an underserved community or a food desert.

  • Evaluation criteria

    • Applications evaluated on multiple criteria, including the potential positive economic impact (e.g., job creation or retention for local residents).

  • Reporting, planning, and data

    • Within 90 days of the act’s effective date, LDAF must conduct a statewide study to identify and map food deserts.
    • The department must implement or maintain a public, geospatial database with population/demographic data and indicators of food access and affordability, updated at least biennially.
    • Within 18 months of the act’s effective date, LDAF must publish a ten-year food desert elimination plan with annual benchmarks, financing strategies, and priorities.
    • Annual reporting: LDAF must submit a report to the Legislature detailing funded projects, outcomes, progress, barriers, and recommended statutory or budgetary changes, including a summary of progress and barriers.
    • Rules and implementation: LDAF must establish implementing rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.

  • Effective date

    • Effective upon the governor’s signature or the lapse of time for gubernatorial action, or as otherwise provided by law if vetoed but later approved by the Legislature.

Who is affected
- Healthy food retailers (retailers, including supermarkets, grocery stores, farmers’ markets, co-ops, etc.) seeking to expand access to healthy foods in underserved communities and food deserts.
- Residents of underserved communities and food deserts who would gain improved access to affordable fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods.
- Local economies and Louisiana farmers (especially if there is increased demand for Louisiana-grown produce).

Procedural and timeline aspects
- 90 days after enactment: statewide study to identify and map food deserts.
- 18 months after enactment: publish a ten-year elimination plan with benchmarks and priorities.
- Ongoing: annual reporting to the Legislature on funded projects, outcomes, progress, barriers, and recommended changes.
- Administrative rules: department to establish rules per the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Funding cycles: competitive grants/loans; potential for a revolving loan fund; possible grants or public-private partnerships.

Overall impact
- The bill strengthens and broadens the Healthy Food Retail Act to address food deserts directly, increases funding flexibility (grants, loans, revolving fund), formalizes planning and mapping work, and requires ongoing reporting and accountability.
- Aims to improve access to affordable, healthy foods, support local agriculture, and stimulate economic activity in underserved Louisiana communities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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