House File 970 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 970 BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS (SUCCESSOR TO HF 796) (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 216) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the double up food bucks program, the 1 supplemental nutrition assistance program and making 2 appropriations and including effective date provisions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2871HZ (2) 91 lh/ko
H.F. 970 Section 1. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DOUBLE 1 UP FOOD BUCKS PROGRAM SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION. There 2 is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the 3 department of health and human services for the fiscal year 4 beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, in addition 5 to any other funding appropriated for such purposes for the 6 same fiscal year, the following amount or so much thereof as is 7 necessary, to be used for the purposes designated: 8 To provide grants to support the double up food bucks 9 program administered by the Iowa healthiest state initiative 10 to make fresh fruits and vegetables sold at farmers markets, 11 grocery stores, and other participating locations accessible 12 to individuals and families who reside in this state and 13 receive assistance through the federal supplemental nutrition 14 assistance program: 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,000,000 16 A grant recipient that receives funding pursuant to this 17 section shall provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match of the 18 grant assistance. 19 Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated under this 20 section shall not revert at the close of the fiscal year, but 21 shall remain available for the purposes designated. 22 Sec. 2. SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 23 ELIGIBLE FOODS. The department of health and human services 24 shall request from the food and nutrition services of the 25 United States department of agriculture to provide, for 26 purposes of state administration of the supplemental food and 27 nutrition program, a modification to the eligible foods as 28 defined in 7 C.F.R. 271.2 to only include healthy food based 29 on necessary nutrition for good health, including but not 30 limited to healthy grains, dairy, meat, eggs, peanut butter and 31 nuts, pasta, rice, legumes, and fruits and vegetables. 32 Sec. 3. CONTINGENT EFFECTIVE DATE. The following takes 33 effect on the date the department of health and human services 34 receives federal approval to modify eligible foods for purposes 35 -1- LSB 2871HZ (2) 91 lh/ko 1/ 2
H.F. 970 of state administration of the supplemental food and nutrition 1 program as specified under this Act, if federal approval is 2 received: 3 The section of this Act making a supplemental appropriation 4 to the department of health and human services to provide 5 grants to support the double up food bucks program. 6 EXPLANATION 7 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 8 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 9 This bill relates to eligible foods for the supplemental 10 nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and double up food bucks 11 program. 12 The bill makes a $1 million supplemental appropriation from 13 the general fund of the state to the department of health and 14 human services (HHS) for fiscal year 2025-2026, in addition 15 to any other funding appropriated for such purpose for the 16 same fiscal year, to provide grants to support the double up 17 food bucks program administered by the Iowa healthiest state 18 initiative to make fresh fruits and vegetables sold at farmers 19 markets, grocery stores, and other participating locations 20 accessible to individuals and families who reside in this 21 state and receive assistance through SNAP. The bill requires 22 a double up food bucks program grant recipient to provide at 23 least a dollar-for-dollar match of the grant assistance. 24 The bill requires HHS to request a waiver from the United 25 States department of agriculture, food and nutrition service 26 to provide that the eligible foods under state administration 27 of SNAP only include healthy food based on necessary nutrition 28 for good health, including but not limited to healthy grains, 29 dairy, meat, eggs, peanut butter and nuts, pasta, rice, 30 legumes, and fruits and vegetables. 31 The supplemental appropriation for the double up food bucks 32 program takes effect on the date HHS receives federal approval 33 of the SNAP waiver, if the waiver is approved. 34 -2- LSB 2871HZ (2) 91 lh/ko 2/ 2