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HD 781

An Act establishing an advisory committee on the accessibility of fresh food retail in communities throughout the Commonwealth

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jake Oliveira and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes an advisory committee to identify communities with limited fresh food access and develop strategies, including funding, transportation, and partnerships, to improve acc

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Bill Summary · HD 781

Summary: HD 781 — An Act establishing an advisory committee on the accessibility of fresh food retail in communities throughout the Commonwealth

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes an advisory committee to examine and improve access to fresh food retail across Massachusetts, with attention to both urban and rural communities.
  • Aims to identify communities lacking adequate access, understand causes and public health impacts, and develop actionable strategies to expand access to fresh food retail.

Key provisions

  • The advisory committee is tasked with:

    • Developing criteria to determine which communities lack adequate access to fresh food retail.
    • Investigating the causes of inadequate access.
    • Studying the public health impact of limited access.
    • Developing innovative strategies and recommendations to increase access, including:
    • Legislation and economic incentives
    • Financing options
    • Transportation improvements
    • Public-private partnerships
    • Pilot programs
    • Improvements to existing food programs
    • Calculating the costs and potential savings of strategies, and weighing benefits, drawbacks, and feasibility.

  • Committee composition:

    • Chair: Commissioner of Public Health (or designee)
    • Secretary of Housing and Economic Development (or designee)
    • Commissioner of Agricultural Resources (or designee)
    • Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health
    • A nutritionist appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health
    • Five gubernatorial appointees, representing:
    • A supermarket industry representative
    • A farmers markets representative
    • A gateway cities representative
    • A representative of nonprofit/not-for-profit hunger relief organizations
    • A representative of the Massachusetts Public Health Association

  • Commencement and reporting timelines:

    • The advisory committee must commence no later than 90 days after the act’s effective date.
    • It must file a report with findings, recommendations, and any draft legislation no later than 18 months after enactment.
    • The report must be submitted to the Senate and House committees on Ways and Means, the chairs of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business, the chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health, and the chairs of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

  • Sunset/expiration:

    • The advisory committee expires upon submission of the required report.

Who is affected

  • State agencies named in the committee (Public Health, Housing and Economic Development, Agricultural Resources) and the joint committees on health, community development, small business, and related areas.
  • Stakeholders represented by the five appointed members (supermarket industry, farmers markets, gateway cities, hunger relief organizations, and public health professionals).
  • Communities with limited access to fresh food retail may benefit from identified criteria, causes, and proposed strategies.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • This is a bill presented in the Massachusetts General Court as HD 781, introduced by Rep. Orlando Ramos (and co-sponsors) and filed in early 2025.
  • The bill envisions an advisory body that operates during a defined period and delivers a substantive report within 18 months of enactment, after which the committee would terminate.
  • Similar measure previously filed in 2023-2024 (House No. 3632) indicates ongoing interest in addressing fresh food access.

Potential impact

  • Provides an organized, cross-sector mechanism to address disparities in access to fresh, healthy food.
  • Could inform future legislation, funding opportunities, and pilot programs aimed at improving supermarket access, markets, transportation options, and public health outcomes in underserved communities.

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

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