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HB 996

Agriculture, Department of; food deserts; require annual reporting

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Imani Barnes and 4 co-sponsors

Georgia's agriculture department must publish annual reports identifying and documenting food desert locations and characteristics to inform policy and resource allocation decisions.

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Bill Summary · HB 996

Legislative bill overview

HB 996 requires Georgia's Department of Agriculture to conduct and publish annual reports on food deserts—areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food—throughout the state. The bill mandates systematic data collection and public reporting on the location, severity, and characteristics of food desert areas in Georgia communities.

Why is this important

Food deserts correlate with higher rates of diet-related diseases, obesity, and health disparities in underserved communities. Annual reporting would create accountability and data infrastructure for policymakers, nonprofits, and local governments to identify problems and target resources for improving food access.

Potential points of contention

  • Defining "food desert": No clear definition in the bill summary means significant discretion in measurement, potentially affecting which communities are identified and receive attention
  • Resource allocation: The bill mandates reporting but may not include funding, raising questions about implementation costs and where the Department of Agriculture will allocate existing resources
  • Solutions gap: Identifying food deserts doesn't automatically solve the problem; critics may argue the state should propose concrete interventions rather than just documentation

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

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