California 2025-2026 Regular Session

California Senate Bill SB444 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 444Introduced by Senator HurtadoFebruary 18, 2025 An act to amend Section 18700 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to food access. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 444, as introduced, Hurtado. State Healthy Food Access Policy.Existing law establishes various food assistance programs, including the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.Existing law declares that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food. Existing law requires all relevant state agencies to consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and grant criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.This bill would revise that declaration to provide that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food that is locally grown and raised.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 18700 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:18700. (a) (1) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient locally grown and raised, affordable and healthy food.(2) Food insecurity is defined as the occasional or constant lack of access to the food one needs to live a healthy life and the uncertainty of being able to acquire enough food to meet the needs of an individual or household due to insufficient money or other resources.(b) All relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Education, and the State Department of Public Health, shall consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.(c) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to provide food or nutrition assistance or to require the expenditure of additional resources to develop food infrastructure.
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3	3	CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 444Introduced by Senator HurtadoFebruary 18, 2025 An act to amend Section 18700 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to food access. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 444, as introduced, Hurtado. State Healthy Food Access Policy.Existing law establishes various food assistance programs, including the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.Existing law declares that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food. Existing law requires all relevant state agencies to consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and grant criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.This bill would revise that declaration to provide that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food that is locally grown and raised.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
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9	9	CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
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11	11	Senate Bill
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13	13	No. 444
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15	15	Introduced by Senator HurtadoFebruary 18, 2025
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17	17	Introduced by Senator Hurtado
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20	20	An act to amend Section 18700 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to food access.
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22	22	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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24	24	## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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26	26	SB 444, as introduced, Hurtado. State Healthy Food Access Policy.
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28	28	Existing law establishes various food assistance programs, including the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.Existing law declares that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food. Existing law requires all relevant state agencies to consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and grant criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.This bill would revise that declaration to provide that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food that is locally grown and raised.
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30	30	Existing law establishes various food assistance programs, including the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.
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32	32	Existing law declares that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food. Existing law requires all relevant state agencies to consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and grant criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.
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34	34	This bill would revise that declaration to provide that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food that is locally grown and raised.
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36	36	## Digest Key
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38	38	## Bill Text
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40	40	The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 18700 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:18700. (a) (1) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient locally grown and raised, affordable and healthy food.(2) Food insecurity is defined as the occasional or constant lack of access to the food one needs to live a healthy life and the uncertainty of being able to acquire enough food to meet the needs of an individual or household due to insufficient money or other resources.(b) All relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Education, and the State Department of Public Health, shall consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.(c) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to provide food or nutrition assistance or to require the expenditure of additional resources to develop food infrastructure.
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42	42	The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
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44	44	## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
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46	46	SECTION 1. Section 18700 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:18700. (a) (1) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient locally grown and raised, affordable and healthy food.(2) Food insecurity is defined as the occasional or constant lack of access to the food one needs to live a healthy life and the uncertainty of being able to acquire enough food to meet the needs of an individual or household due to insufficient money or other resources.(b) All relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Education, and the State Department of Public Health, shall consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.(c) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to provide food or nutrition assistance or to require the expenditure of additional resources to develop food infrastructure.
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48	48	SECTION 1. Section 18700 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
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50	50	### SECTION 1.
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52	52	18700. (a) (1) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient locally grown and raised, affordable and healthy food.(2) Food insecurity is defined as the occasional or constant lack of access to the food one needs to live a healthy life and the uncertainty of being able to acquire enough food to meet the needs of an individual or household due to insufficient money or other resources.(b) All relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Education, and the State Department of Public Health, shall consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.(c) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to provide food or nutrition assistance or to require the expenditure of additional resources to develop food infrastructure.
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54	54	18700. (a) (1) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient locally grown and raised, affordable and healthy food.(2) Food insecurity is defined as the occasional or constant lack of access to the food one needs to live a healthy life and the uncertainty of being able to acquire enough food to meet the needs of an individual or household due to insufficient money or other resources.(b) All relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Education, and the State Department of Public Health, shall consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.(c) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to provide food or nutrition assistance or to require the expenditure of additional resources to develop food infrastructure.
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56	56	18700. (a) (1) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient locally grown and raised, affordable and healthy food.(2) Food insecurity is defined as the occasional or constant lack of access to the food one needs to live a healthy life and the uncertainty of being able to acquire enough food to meet the needs of an individual or household due to insufficient money or other resources.(b) All relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Education, and the State Department of Public Health, shall consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.(c) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to provide food or nutrition assistance or to require the expenditure of additional resources to develop food infrastructure.
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60	60	18700. (a) (1) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient locally grown and raised, affordable and healthy food.
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62	62	(2) Food insecurity is defined as the occasional or constant lack of access to the food one needs to live a healthy life and the uncertainty of being able to acquire enough food to meet the needs of an individual or household due to insufficient money or other resources.
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64	64	(b) All relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Education, and the State Department of Public Health, shall consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.
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66	66	(c) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to provide food or nutrition assistance or to require the expenditure of additional resources to develop food infrastructure.