New Rules for Small Grocery Stores in Food Deserts
November 5, 2025
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Where This Stands
Currently dead. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.
Procedural history
6 actions- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
- Nov 12, 2025HouseNow in Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
- Nov 12, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Commerce Committee
- Nov 12, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Nov 12, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
- Nov 5, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →The Frame
The bill provides a legal framework for cities and counties to bypass existing land-use restrictions to incentivize the placement of small-scale grocery retailers in neighborhoods where residents currently live more than 1 to 10 miles from a full-service supermarket.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Local governments
They are granted new authority to adjust land development regulations and comprehensive plans to permit specific grocery store types.
Small-footprint grocery store operators
They may be subject to mandatory reporting requirements if they operate in designated food insecure areas.
Residents of food insecure areas
They may see changes in local land use that facilitate the opening of new small-scale grocery retailers in their vicinity.
Last recorded activity November 5, 2025.
Introduced.
Summary
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies as a 'food insecure area' under this bill?
Does this bill force local governments to allow these stores?
What kind of store qualifies as a 'small-footprint grocery store'?
Why It Matters
The bill provides a legal framework for cities and counties to bypass existing land-use restrictions to incentivize the placement of small-scale grocery retailers in neighborhoods where residents currently live more than 1 to 10 miles from a full-service supermarket.
News Coverage
Lobbying Activity
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
2024
“Telehealth Artificial intelligence Quantum legislation National Institutes of Health Reform Medical Nutrition Therapy Act The REDUCE Act Amputation Reduction and Compassion Act Affordable housing School-based health Food insecurity Breast cancer innovation Traumatic Brain Injury Technology Graduate Medical Education Reform Wage index Tax Exempt Status ”
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
2023
“Artificial Intelligence Price Transparency Value Based Care Health Equity Pharmacy Issues Seniors Timely Access to Care Act Telehealth Quantum computing Appropriations PACT Act Food Insecurity Mental Health ”
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
on behalf of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
2023
“Price Transparency Workforce Tax Exempt Status Appropriations Research and Innovation SAVE Act Food Insecurity Value Based Care ”
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
on behalf of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
2022
“SANE Act Telehealth (H.R.4040) Hospital-at-Home Food insecurity NQF Funding Brain Health NIH Reform No Surprise Act implementation ”
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
openstates.org
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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