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Bill Summary · HB 1154

Summary of North Carolina HB 1154 (Session 2025)

Title

Expand the FarmSHARE Food Hub Program.

Primary Purpose

To broaden and fund the FarmSHARE Food Hub Program, enhance the state’s support for nutrition-empowered food access, and expand related initiatives under the North Carolina Farmers Market Network and the Double Up Food Bucks program.

Key Provisions

Section 1 — FarmSHARE Program Expansion

  • Funding: Appropriates $4,000,000 in nonrecurring General Fund funds for FY 2026-2027 to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS). The funds are to be awarded as grants to the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA), a nonprofit, to support the FarmSHARE program.
  • Program goals: CFSA, in collaboration with State partners, will purchase locally grown food and distribute it free to food-insecure individuals and households across North Carolina.
  • Reporting requirement (ongoing until funds spent): CFSA must annually report by October 1 to the Chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources and to the Fiscal Research Division, including:
    • (1) Number of local farmers participating
    • (2) Participating food hub locations and community organizations (including location type)
    • (3) Amount of food distributed (by pounds) and number of food boxes distributed annually

Section 2 — Expansion of Double Up Food Bucks via NC Farmers Market Network

  • Funding: Allocates $2,000,000 in nonrecurring General Fund funds for FY 2026-2027 to NCDA&CS to grant the North Carolina Farmers Market Network (NCFMN). The grant program administered through NCFMN will support Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) activities to make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible to residents who participate in nutrition assistance programs (federal or state).
  • Definition: “Fruits and vegetables” include fresh, canned, dried, or frozen forms without added sodium, sugars, fats, or oils.
  • Reporting requirement (ongoing until funds spent): NCDA&CS must annually report by October 1 on the grants under this section, covering:
    • (1) Number of nutrition assistance participants receiving grants
    • (2) Number of local farmers participating
    • (3) List of participating locations categorized by location type
    • (4) Amount of financial benefits redeemed by participants in the prior year
    • (5) Assessment of the rate at which participants redeemed available benefits

Section 3 — Effective Date

  • The act becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Who is Affected

  • Nonprofit partners: CFSA and the NC Farmers Market Network (NCFMN) receive and administer grants to support program activities.
  • Local farmers: Increased participation opportunities and potential revenue through CFSA-led purchases and DUFB-related mechanisms.
  • Food-insecure residents: Greater access to locally sourced food free of charge (via FarmSHARE) and increased access to nutritious fruits and vegetables through DUFB-supported venues.
  • Food hubs and community organizations: Expanded access points and collaborations as part of FarmSHARE and DUFB expansion.
  • State agencies: NCDA&CS administers funds and reports annually to legislative oversight bodies.

Potential Impacts

  • Increased local food purchasing from North Carolina farmers, with distributions targeted to food-insecure households.
  • Expanded access to fresh fruits and vegetables through DUFB at farmers markets, food hubs, and other direct agricultural retail outlets.
  • Enhanced accountability and transparency via annual reporting on participant reach, farmer participation, distribution volumes, and benefit redemption.
  • Short-term fiscal impact: $6 million total in nonrecurring General Fund appropriations for FY 2026-2027 (split as $4 million for FarmSHARE and $2 million for DUFB-related grants).
  • Administrative duties for NCDA&CS and partner nonprofits regarding grant administration and performance reporting.

Timeline & Procedural Notes

  • Effective date: July 1, 2026.
  • Funding availability window: Nonrecurring funds appropriated for FY 2026-2027; expenditures and program operations to follow within that period.
  • Reporting cadence: Annually by October 1 until all funds are expended, to legislative oversight committees.

If you’d like, I can add a simple comparison to current programs or create a one-page briefing focused for policymakers or community advocates.

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

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