HB610 • 2026

Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act; established, report.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 2.2 a chapter numbered 55.7, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-5518 through 2.2-5522, relating to Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act established.</p>

Agriculture

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Anthony
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about funding amounts, making this information uncertain.

Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act

This act establishes a framework for state agencies to coordinate food security responses during emergencies such as federal nutrition benefit interruptions, natural disasters, and other events affecting household food access.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act to improve coordination among state agencies in addressing food security issues during emergencies.
Requires the Department of Social Services, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Department of Emergency Management to collaborate on emergency food responses.
Directs these departments to develop a plan for coordinated emergency food-access operations involving community-based nonprofit food providers and other entities approved by the Department.
Sets up procedures for activating emergency food-access operations upon request from localities or when an emergency is declared by the Department.
Requires submission of reports to the Governor and General Assembly summarizing activations, geographic areas served, distribution partners utilized, and data sources relied upon.

Who It Names or Affects

Department of Social Services
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Department of Emergency Management

Terms To Know

Act: The Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act, which establishes a framework for state agencies to coordinate food security responses during emergencies.
Participating agencies: These are the Department of Social Services, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Department of Emergency Management, who work together under this act.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much funding will be allocated for these efforts.
It is unclear when exactly the Act will go into effect after being enacted.

Bill History

2026-02-18 House
Left in Committee Appropriations
2026-02-11 Health & Human Resources
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 0-N)
2026-02-10 Health & Human Resources
Assigned HAPP sub: Health & Human Resources
2026-02-10 Health and Human Services
Reported from Health and Human Services and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
2026-02-05 Behavioral Health
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 1-N)
2026-02-04 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB610)
2026-01-27 Behavioral Health
Assigned sub: Behavioral Health
2026-01-27 General Laws
Referred from General Laws and referred to Health and Human Services (Voice Vote)
2026-01-13 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103380D
2026-01-13 General Laws
Referred to Committee on General Laws

Official Summary Text

Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act established.
Establishes the Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act to coordinate state-level food security responses during federal nutrition benefit interruptions, natural disasters, and other emergencies affecting household food access. Under the bill, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Department of Emergency Management are directed to work together to coordinate the provisions of the Act.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 2.2 a chapter numbered 55.7, consisting of sections numbered
2.2-5518
through
2.2-5522
, relating to Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act established.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 2.2 a chapter numbered 55.7, consisting of sections numbered
2.2-5518
through
2.2-5522
, as follows:

CHAPTER

55.7
.

COMMONWEALTH FOOD SECURITY AND COORDINATION ACT
.

§
2.2-5518
. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Act" means the Commonwealth Food Security and Coordination Act.

"Department" means the Department of Social Services.

"Participating agencies" means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
,
and Department of Emergency Management.

§
2.2-5519
. Department of Social Services
and participating agencies
to work together.

The Department of Social Services
and participating agencies
shall work together to coordinate state-level food security responses during federal nutrition benefit interruptions, natural disasters, and other emergencies affecting household food access.

§
2.2-5520
. State lead agency's duties
.

To facilitate the implementation of an early intervention services system and to ensure compliance with federal requirements, the Governor shall appoint the Department to act as
state
lead agency. The duties of
the
Department shall include:

1. Establishing a plan for coordinated emergency food-access operations. Such plan shall include food banks, community-based nonprofit food providers, mutual-aid organizations, faith-based organizations, community kitchens, and community gardens and other entities approved by the Department;

2. Developing and maintaining memoranda of understanding with
participating agencies
, and participating nonprofit partners to support logistics, procurement, and distribution of emergency food resources;

3. Identifying areas of need utilizing (i) the Commonwealth Food Mapping and Access Equity Tool, when operational, or (ii) other statewide food-access datasets maintained by the Commonwealth;

4. Activating emergency food-access operations within 24 to 72 hours upon request from a locality or upon a determination by the Department that an emergency exists;

5. Establishing guardrails to promote equitable access to emergency food resources across geographic areas and prevent retailer-level concentration of emergency distribution;

6. Providing public guidance to households and localities regarding available emergency food resources and activation procedures;

7. Coordinating with local departments of social services to support implementation of emergency food-access operations
; and

8. Submitting a report to the Governor and the General Assembly within 120 days following any activation of the Act during the preceding calendar year, summarizing emergency activations, geographic areas served, distribution partners utilized, and data sources relied upon.

§
2.2-5521
. Duties of participating agencies.

The
participating agencies
shall:

1. Provide technical assistance, logistics support, and emergency operations coordination at the request of the Department;

2. Assist in transportation, warehousing, and procurement flexibilities during declared emergencies; and

3. Support communication and coordination with local emergency management offices.

§
2.2-5522
. Funding.

The Program may be supported by unappropriated general funds, federal relief funds, or other funds as appropriated by the General Assembly. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize use of the Revenue Stabilization Fund or any other constitutionally restricted reserve.