SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 337

Food Insecure Areas
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SPONSOR
Rayner
FILED BY
Michele Rayner — District 62, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Housing

Filed under Development & Land Use.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Food Insecure Areas; Authorizes local government to enact land development regulations to permit land use for small-footprint grocery store located in food insecure area; authorizes local government to include in its comprehensive plan provision permitting land use for small-footprint grocery store located in food insecure area; authorizes local government to require mandatory reporting of certain information from small-footprint grocery store.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Local governments may permit small grocery stores in food deserts.

Local governments may now allow small grocery stores to operate in designated food deserts, overriding existing zoning restrictions.

This change targets areas with high poverty and limited access to supermarkets, aiming to improve local food availability.

The bill defines specific criteria for what qualifies as a food insecure area and a small-footprint grocery store.

Local governments may also require these stores to report certain information, though the specific data is not detailed in the text.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Local governments may permit small-footprint grocery stores in food insecure areas majors. 163.31791(3)

AIGrants local governments the authority to allow small grocery stores to operate in designated food deserts, overriding existing zoning restrictions.

“a local government may enact land development regulations authorizing land use for a small-footprint grocery store located in a food insecure area” bill text, line 56 →
§ 2 Local governments may include small-footprint grocery stores in comprehensive plans majors. 163.31791(4)

AIAllows local governments to formally designate land for small grocery stores in their long-term planning documents, ensuring consistent zoning approval.

“a local government may include in its comprehensive plan a provision authorizing land use for a small-footprint grocery store located in a food insecure area” bill text, line 60 →
§ 3 Local governments may require mandatory reporting from small-footprint grocery stores moderates. 163.31791(5)

AIPermits local governments to demand specific information from small grocery stores operating in food deserts, though the exact data required is not defined in the bill.

“A local government may require mandatory reporting of certain information from small-footprint grocery stores” bill text, line 64 →
§ 4 Defines food insecure area using specific poverty and distance metrics moderates. 163.31791(2)(a)

AIEstablishes objective criteria for identifying food deserts, requiring a 20% poverty rate or low income and a minimum distance from a supermarket.

“Having a poverty rate of at least 20 percent or having a median family income at or below 80 percent of the median family income for this state” bill text, line 35 →
§ 5 Defines small-footprint grocery store by sales composition and location moderates. 163.31791(2)(c)

AILimits the new zoning authority to stores that derive at least 30% of revenue from nutrient-dense foods and operate in a food insecure area.

“Derives at least 30 percent of its gross receipts from the retail sale of nutrient-dense foods” bill text, line 50 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
11/12/2025
Now in Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
11/12/2025
Referred to Commerce Committee
11/12/2025
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
11/12/2025
Referred to Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
11/5/2025
Filed
1 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 163.31791
+376 / −0