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HB231 • 2025

Relating to a study on food deserts and their disproportionate impact among communities of color.

Relating to a study on food deserts and their disproportionate impact among communities of color.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Morales, Christina | Garcia, Linda
Last action
2025-04-17
Official status
04/17/2025 H Left pending in subcommittee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Relating to a study on food deserts and their disproportionate impact among communities of color.

Relating to a study on food deserts and their disproportionate impact among communities of color.

What This Bill Does

  • Relating to a study on food deserts and their disproportionate impact among communities of color.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-17 Texas Legislature Online

    Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .

  2. 2025-04-17 Texas Legislature Online

    Considered by s/c in public hearing

  3. 2025-04-17 Texas Legislature Online

    Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee

  4. 2025-04-17 Texas Legislature Online

    Left pending in subcommittee

  5. 2025-02-27 Texas Legislature Online

    Read first time

  6. 2025-02-27 Texas Legislature Online

    Referred to s/c on Dis Prev & Women's & Children's Health by Speaker

  7. 2024-11-12 Texas Legislature Online

    Filed

Official Summary Text

Relating to a study on food deserts and their disproportionate impact among communities of color.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
89(R) HB 231 - Introduced version - Bill Text

89R1934 JDK-D

By: Morales of Harris

H.B. No. 231

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study on food deserts and their disproportionate

impact among communities of color.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. (a) In this section:

(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health

Services.

(2) "Food desert" means a geographic area in this

state the department determines is an area with limited access to

healthy and nutritious food.

(b) The department, in collaboration with any appropriate

state agency, shall conduct a study on food deserts and any

disproportionate impact food deserts have on communities of color.

In conducting the study, the department shall:

(1) investigate the causes of food deserts;

(2) investigate the health effects of food deserts;

(3) investigate the financial impact of food deserts;

(4) compare access to healthy and nutritious food

related to an individual's:

(A) age;

(B) race and ethnicity; and

(C) socioeconomic background; and

(5) investigate the origins of any disproportionate

impact food deserts have on communities of color.

(c) Based on the results of the study conducted under this

section, the department shall develop recommendations for

legislative and other action to:

(1) address disparities in food access among

communities of color; and

(2) increase access to healthy and nutritious food.

(d) Not later than September 1, 2026, the department shall

prepare and submit to each standing committee of the legislature

with primary jurisdiction over the Department of State Health

Services a written report summarizing the results of the study and

including the recommendations developed under this section.

(e) This Act expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.