This amendment changes how the state identifies food deserts by removing a requirement for a new statewide study and instead asks agencies to share existing data, while also expanding funding rules to help more communities get access to healthy food.
Louisiana2026Vetoed
HB1194
Healthy Food Retail Act Changes
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 3:26 AM
In one sentence
This bill proposes a program to give grants and loans to food stores that sell fresh produce in areas where people have trouble finding healthy food.
What it does
- Creates a financing program managed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to support new or existing grocery stores.
- Provides grants, loans, or both to retailers operating in low-income neighborhoods and rural areas with limited food access.
- Requires the LSU AgCenter to work with state officials to gather data on where food deserts are located across Louisiana.
- Sets rules for choosing projects based on community need, ability to succeed long-term, and job creation or retention for local residents.
- Allows funding for supermarkets, farmers' markets, mobile markets, delivery services, and distribution projects that bring fresh fruit and vegetables to underserved areas.
Who it affects
- Food retailers such as grocery stores, supermarkets, and farmers' markets in low-income or rural communities.
- Residents living in food deserts who currently have limited access to affordable healthy food.
- The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, which would manage the program.
- The LSU AgCenter, which must provide research and data on food desert locations.
Limits and unknowns
- The bill states the program depends on funds being available; it does not guarantee a specific amount of money.
- This legislation was vetoed by the Governor, so its rules are not currently in effect unless lawmakers override that decision.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Food desert
- A low-income area where at least 500 people or 33% of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in cities, or more than ten miles away in rural areas.
- Underserved community
- An area with limited access to healthy food retailers that is located in a low-income or high-poverty zone, or an area determined to have serious healthy food access limitations.
- Healthy food retailer
- A business, either for-profit or not-for-profit, that sells high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables at competitive prices.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES: Provides with respect to the Healthy Food Retail Act (EN NO IMPACT See Note)
Official activity
Bill history
- Vetoed by the Governor.H
- Sent to the Governor for executive approval.H
- Signed by the President of the Senate.S
- Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.H
- Read by title, roll called, yeas 81, nays 13, Senate amendments concurred in.H
- Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.H
- Received from the Senate with amendments.H
- The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 28 yeas and 2 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.S
- Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.S
- Rules suspended. Reported with amendments. Rules suspended. Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.S
- Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Finance.S
- Rules suspended.S
- Reported without action.S
- Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.S
- Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.S
- Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 64, nays 28. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.H
- Called from the calendar.H
- Scheduled for floor debate on 05/06/2026.H
- Notice given.H
- Read by title, returned to the calendar.H
Changes
Amendments
8 stored
Filed 6
Filed 7
This amendment shifts the responsibility for identifying food deserts and creating an elimination plan from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture to the LSU AgCenter, while adding a requirement for annual reports.
This amendment shifts the responsibility for identifying food deserts and creating an elimination plan from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture to the LSU AgCenter, while requiring annual reports on progress.
This amendment records that the House voted to agree with changes made by the Senate to HB 1194.
This amendment changes how a specific law is updated by removing references to certain sections and adding new duties for LSU AgCenter to help identify food deserts.
This amendment changes how a specific agricultural group works with the Department of Agriculture by focusing their task on sharing data about where 'food deserts' are located.