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 | ||||
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| 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 |
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| 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. |
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| 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 |
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| 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. |
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| 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 |
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| 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:
- Child Nutrition Crisis
- SNAP Utilization and Eligibility in Texas and Texas Legislative Districts
- Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity
- FRESH Austin
- Healthy Food Access Initiative Evaluation Annual Report
- What Really Happens When a Grocery Store Opens in a ‘Food Desert’?
- What can SNAP buy?
- SNAP Food Benefits
- Get the Facts: Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Consumption
- CDC Nutrition Resource Page
- Healthier Food Retail: An Action Guide for Public Health Practitioners
- Healthier Food Retail: Beginning the Assessment Process in Your State or Community
- Healthy Food Environments: Improving Access to Healthier Food
- Food Security
- Feeding America
- State of Childhood Obesity Texas
- Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2021 Toolkit, Healthy Kids and Healthy Schools
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
