Bill
AB 2213
Creates a California Healthy Food Financing Initiative with a state fund and council to expand access to healthy foods in underserved areas through blended public, private, and phi
Session: 2025–2026 | Jurisdiction: California | Amended April 16, 2026
Overview
- AB 2213 would create a formal framework to expand access to healthy foods in underserved California communities through a new State financing initiative.
- The bill establishes a dedicated council, a state fund, and structured financing and reporting requirements to support projects that increase availability of nutritious foods and connect agricultural products to food assistance programs.
1) Purpose and Intent
- Promote the right to access affordable, healthy food by expanding healthy food options in urban, suburban, tribal, and rural areas.
- Eliminate food deserts and hunger by leveraging public, philanthropic, and private funding to finance healthy food projects.
- Align healthy food financing with existing food assistance systems to improve affordability and availability.
2) Key Provisions and Changes
A. California Healthy Food Financing Initiative Council
- Created in the Office of the State Treasurer.
- Composition:
- The Treasurer (chair)
- Secretary of Food and Agriculture or designee
- Secretary of California Health and Human Services or Director of Social Services or designee
- Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development or designee
- Duties:
- Implement the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative (the Initiative).
- Develop financing options using public, philanthropic, and private funds.
- Establish eligibility criteria, minimum/maximum levels of financial assistance, and priorities for funding.
- Identify eligible programs and communities; set grant/loan schedules and award procedures.
- Partner with government agencies, nonprofits, philanthropic entities, and other stakeholders.
- Review strategic recommendations and provide updates to the Legislature as requested.
- Prioritize financing to food assistance, nutrition incentives, and food access programs.
- Prioritize projects serving underserved areas, small/independent grocers, food cooperatives, or areas lacking existing programs.
- Adopt rules/regulations necessary for implementation.
- Maintain an informational website with ongoing updates.
B. California Healthy Food Financing Initiative Fund
- Created in the State Treasury.
- Source of funds: federal, state, philanthropic, and private funds.
- Purpose: Expand access to healthy foods in underserved communities and support programs connecting agricultural products to food assistance systems.
- Use of funds: Expenditures, upon legislative appropriation, to leverage additional funding (e.g., tax credits, foundation grants, CRA-related investments, and other recognized funding mechanisms).
C. Reporting, Transparency, and Accountability
- The Initiative’s website must include:
- Actions taken by the council
- Available funding sources and how to obtain them (loans, grants, etc.)
- Interagency activities related to improving access to healthy foods
- Resources linking to information on food deserts and access programs
- By January 1, 2028, the website must disclose:
- Total funds in the Fund and sources
- Funds expended to leverage other funding and total investments generated
- Total disbursements and grant/loan recipients
- Geographic locations of funded projects
D. Advisory Group (Possible)
- The Secretary of Food and Agriculture, in coordination with the Director of Social Services, may establish an advisory group (up to 21 members) to assist with compliance and implementation. Members could include lawmakers, food policy advocates, grocers, farmers markets, food hubs, financial institutions, underserved community representatives, and health/nonprofit stakeholders.
E. Legislative Recommendations and Sunset Considerations
- By July 1, 2027, the Secretary and Director must prepare recommendations for actions to promote food access and align financing with food assistance programs; advice may be presented to the Legislature upon request.
- Advisory group (if formed) would support this requirement.
3) Who is Affected
4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects
Notes
- The bill emphasizes leveraging diverse funding sources (including tax credits and federal programs) to maximize impact.
- It aligns with California’s broader public health and food access goals by embedding accountability and transparency through defined reporting mechanisms.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
