SB-444 • 2026

State Healthy Food Access Policy.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Hurtado
Last action: 2025-08-29
Official status: August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details about the enforcement mechanism or the exact changes expected in food assistance programs.

State Healthy Food Access Policy

This law updates the state's policy to include locally grown and raised food as part of the right to access affordable and healthy food, and requires relevant state agencies to consider this updated policy when making rules related to food distribution.

What This Bill Does

Updates the state’s policy to declare that every human being has a right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food that is locally grown and raised.
Requires all relevant state agencies to consider this updated policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria pertinent to the distribution of sufficient affordable food.

Who It Names or Affects

State agencies responsible for making rules about food assistance programs
People who receive food assistance through CalFresh

Terms To Know

CalFresh: A program in California that provides money to eligible individuals to buy healthy food.
State agencies: Government offices responsible for making rules and giving out grants related to various programs, including CalFresh.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify which state agencies are required to report their progress.
It is unclear how the new policy will be enforced or what specific changes it will bring about in food assistance programs.

Bill History

2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-03 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1).
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1326.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Ordered to special consent calendar.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1200.) (May 23).
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 21.
2025-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 682.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-13 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 7.
2025-02-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 21.
2025-02-18 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 444, as amended, 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.
The bill would require all relevant state agencies to consider that policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria that are pertinent to that policy. The bill would require specified state agencies to report to the Legislature by January 1, 2027, at a minimum, their progress on revising, adopting, or establishing those pertinent policies, regulations, and grant criteria.

Current Bill Text

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