Rep. Michele Rayner has filed legislation aimed at helping local governments open small-footprint grocery stores in Florida food deserts.
If approved, HB 337 would allow local governments to streamline zoning and land-use regulations to simplify approval of small grocery stores that sell fresh produce and other nutritious foods in communities identified as food insecure.
Rayner, a St. Petersburg Democrat, said the bill is about giving local leaders the tools to address food access at a time when many Floridians are struggling to afford basic groceries.
“As individuals and families across our state continue to face rising costs and fewer resources to help them in times of need, we need to work together to ensure everyone has easy access to affordable, healthy food,” Rayner said in a statement.
The proposal comes as nearly 3 million Floridians face uncertainty over federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing federal government shutdown. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), about 70% of SNAP recipients in Florida are children, seniors or people with disabilities.
The USDA defines food deserts as low-income areas where residents live far from supermarkets or large grocery stores. Rayner said her bill would not only expand access to healthy food in those areas, but could also spur local economic growth by allowing cities and counties to attract new small businesses.
“This legislation provides local leaders with the tools they need to bring healthy food options directly into communities that have been historically underserved,” Rayner said. “Access to healthy, fresh food is a right, not a luxury, and we should all want everyone in our state to be fed.”
