Food Access and Insecurity

Bills that are relevant to food policy, hunger, food access, and food insecurity research taking place at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living can be viewed here.

Food Access and Insecurity

Bill # Author Status Brief Description Past Bills (2019)
HCR 54 State Rep. Thresa Meza

PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/18/21

 Approving the SNAP settlement agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
SB 224 State Sen. Charles Perry

PASSED -Signed by the Governor on 6/16/21, effective 9/1/21

 The commission shall develop and implement simplified certification and recertification requirements for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits for certain individuals. Companion Bill: HB 701 and HB 1019
Bills Below Failed to Make it through Legislative Process

HB 209 State Rep. Shawn Nicole Thierry Left pending in House committee on 3/22/21 A taxable entity qualifies for credit under certain certain conditions. This taxable entity must open a grocery store or healthy corner store in a low income area or a food desert, it needs to accept WIC, and it needs to be open year round. Companion Bill: SB 358
HB 319 State Rep. Drew Springer Referred to Public Education on 2/25/21 The commission, in conjunction with the Texas Workforce Commission, will ensure that a person who is at least 18 but younger than 50 who has SNAP benefits, who has no dependents, and who does not have a disability receives supplemental nutrition assistance program employment and training services unless the person is eligible for an individual waiver under the program.
HB 343 State Rep. Briscoe Cain Left pending in House committee - 3/16/21 A recipient of SNAP benefits cannot use these benefits to purchase an energy drink, a sweetened beverage, a carbonated beverage, candy, potato or corn chips, or cookies.
HB 701 State Rep. Armando Lucio Walle Out of House Committee - 4/28/21 The commission shall develop and implement simplified certification and recertification requirements for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits for certain individuals. Companion Bill: SB 224
HB 926 State Rep. Vikki Goodwin Referred to Human Services - 3/1/21 In determining whether an applicant is eligible for SNAP assistance, the commission shall exclude certain resources.
HB 927 State Rep. Vikki Goodwin Referred to Human Services - 3/1/21 In determining whether an applicant is eligible for financial assistance, the commission shall exclude certain resources.
HB 945 State Rep. Ramon Romero, Jr. Left pending in House committee - 4/13/21 The commission by rule shall ensure that an individual whose eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits has been initially established or re-certified remains eligible to receive those benefits for a period of 12 months. Companion Bill: SB 1217
HB 1019 State Rep. Thresa Meza Out of House Committee - 4/19/21 The commission shall develop and implement simplified certification and recertification requirements for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits for certain individuals. Companion Bill: SB 224, SB 1532, SB 1795
HB 1134 State Rep. Brooks Landgraf Referred to Human Services - 3/04/21 The department shall allow a governmental agency, nonprofit private organization, or for-profit private organization to apply to the department for a grant under this section if the agency or organization contracts with an area agency on aging to deliver meals. Companion Bill: SB 732
HB 1211 State Rep. Ina Minjarez Withdrawn from schedule - 4/13/21 In determining the eligibility of an applicant for or re-certifying the eligibility of a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance benefits to whom this section applies, the commission may not consider certain resources
HB 1230 State Rep. Evelina Ortega Left pending in House committee - 4/13/21 Relating to excluding the value of motor vehicles in determining eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program. Companion Bill: SB 1914
HB 1353 State Rep. Evelina Ortega Left pending in House committee - 4/13/21 If the head of household becomes ineligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program because the head of household failed to comply with work requirements, the other members of the household are not ineligible for program benefits on that basis. Companion Bill: SB 1912
HB 1449 State Rep. Ramon Romero, Jr. Left pending in committee - 4/13/21 In determining whether an applicant is eligible for assistance, the commission shall exclude certain resources.
HB 1539 State Rep. Armando Martinez Referred to Public Health - 3/08/21 A food service establishment to which this subchapter applies shall post in a conspicuous place in the area of the establishment in which food is consumed or on the establishment's food menu a warning sign that states: "This establishment prepares food items that contain peanut products."
HB 2126 State Rep. Armando Lucio Walle Left pending in House committee - 4/13/21 The Health and Human Services Commission shall contract with one or more third-party service providers to provide supplemental nutrition assistance program employment and training services. Companion Bill: SB 869
HB 2641 State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez Bill passed the House - 5/13/21 Relating to annually adjusting for inflation the maximum amount of a motor vehicle excluded in determining eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
HB 3191 State Rep. Thresa Meza Left pending in House committee - 4/13/21 Prohibition and limitation on certain charges by certain SNAP retailers during public health disasters.
SB 358 State Sen. Borris L. Miles Referred to Finance - 3/9/21 A taxable entity qualifies for credit under certain certain conditions. This taxable entity must open a grocery store or healthy corner store in a low income area or a food desert, it needs to accept WIC, and it needs to be open year round. Companion Bill: HB 209
SB 732 State Sen. Bryan Hughes Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/11/21 The department shall allow a governmental agency, nonprofit private organization, or for-profit private organization to apply to the department for a grant under this section if the agency or organization contracts with an area agency on aging to deliver meals. Companion Bill: HB 1134
SB 869 State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/11/21 The Health and Human Services Commission shall contract with one or more third-party service providers to provide supplemental nutrition assistance program employment and training services. Companion Bill: HB 2126
SB 1151 State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst Left pending in Senate committee - 4/13/21

The executive commissioner shall adopt rules in accordance with 7 U.S.C. Section 2020(s) and 7 C.F.R. Part 273, Subpart H, to provide transitional supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to a household.
SB 1217 State Sen. Nathan Johnson Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/18/21

The commission by rule shall ensure that an individual whose eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits has been initially established or re-certified remains eligible to receive those benefits for a period of 12 months. Companion Bill: HB 945
SB 1307 State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/18/21

During a state of disaster declared under Chapter 418, Government Code, or a public health disaster declared under Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, the commission shall waive work requirements that require a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to search for work. 
SB 1532 State Sen. Royce West Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/24/21

The commission shall develop and implement simplified certification and recertification requirements for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits for certain individuals. Companion Bill: HB 1019, SB 1795
SB 1795 State Sen. Royce West Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/26/21 The commission shall develop and implement simplified certification and recertification requirements for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits for certain individuals. Companion Bill: HB 1019, SB 1532
SB 1912 State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco Referred to Health & Human Services - 4/01/21 If the head of household becomes ineligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program because the head of household failed to comply with work requirements, the other members of the household are not ineligible for program benefits on that basis. Companion Bill: HB 1353
SB 1914 State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco Out of Senate Committee - 5/11/21 Relating to excluding the value of motor vehicles in determining eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program. Companion Bill: HB 1230

Food Access and Insecurity Resources: 

  1. Child Nutrition Crisis  
  2. SNAP Utilization and Eligibility in Texas and Texas Legislative Districts  
  3. Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity   
  4. FRESH Austin  
  5. Healthy Food Access Initiative Evaluation Annual Report 
  6. What Really Happens When a Grocery Store Opens in a ‘Food Desert’?  
  7. What can SNAP buy?   
  8. SNAP Food Benefits  
  9. Get the Facts: Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Consumption  
  10. CDC Nutrition Resource Page  
  11. Healthier Food Retail: An Action Guide for Public Health Practitioners  
  12. Healthier Food Retail: Beginning the Assessment Process in Your State or Community  
  13. Healthy Food Environments: Improving Access to Healthier Food  
  14. Food Security 
  15. Feeding America 
  16. State of Childhood Obesity Texas
  17. Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2021 Toolkit, Healthy Kids and Healthy Schools
  18. Asada, Y., Pipito, A.A., Taher, S., & Chriqui, J.F. Media coverage and framing of Oakland’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax 2016-2019. American Journal of Health Promotion. Available online ahead of print: https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117120986104
  19. Asada, Y., Pipito, A.A., Taher, S., Chriqui, J.F., & Powell, L.M. Holding the city’s feet to the fire: Lessons learned from Oakland’s implementation of measure HH the sugar-sweetened beverage tax. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. Available online ahead of print: http://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000001296
  20. Marinello, S., Pipito, A.A., Leider J., Pugach, O., & Powell, LM. Longer-Term Impacts of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes on Fast-Food Beverage Prices: Evidence from Oakland, California, Two-Year Post-Tax. Public Health Nutrition. Available online ahead of print: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980020005212
  21. Zenk, S.N., Li, Y., Leider, J., Pipito, A., Powell, L. (2021). No Long-Term Store Marketing Changes Following Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Implementation: Oakland, CA. Journal of Health and Place. 68:102512 Available: https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117120986104
  22. Leider, J., Li, Y., & Powell, L.M. (2021). Pass-Through of the Oakland, California, Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax in Food Stores Two Years Post-Implementation: A Difference-in-Differences Study. PLoS One. 16(1): e0244884. Available online: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244884
  23. Marinello, S., Leider, J., Pugach, O., & Powell, L.M. (2021). The impact of the Philadelphia beverage tax on employment: a synthetic control analysis. Economics and Human Biology. 40: 100930. Available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2020.100939
  24. Powell, L.M. & Leider, J. (2020). Evaluation of Changes in Beverage Prices and Volume Sold Following the Implementation and Repeal of a Sweetened Beverage Tax in Cook County, Illinois. JAMA Network Open. 3(12): e2031083. Available online: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.31083

2021 Policy Topics