House Bill 6854 (sHB6854 File No. 847) is designed to combat food insecurity and improve access to nutritionally adequate food in areas identified as food deserts. The bill mandates the hiring of a food and nutrition policy analyst by the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO), effective July 1, 2023. This analyst will be responsible for coordinating state efforts to address food insecurity, promoting food as medicine, and providing data on access to nutritionally adequate food. The bill also empowers municipalities to offer tax abatements to new grocery stores in food deserts, with the stipulation that larger stores must enter into a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization. The state may compensate municipalities for the tax revenue lost due to these abatements. The bill includes insertions to various sections of the law, effective on different dates, and House Amendment “A” modifies the original bill by specifying the hiring of the analyst by CWCSEO and adjusting labor peace agreement requirements.

The food and nutrition policy analyst's duties include creating programs and databases to assist individuals in locating food sources, maintaining a database of food recovery organizations, producing an annual report on food insecurity, and administering a work group to develop food security best practices. The bill also outlines fiscal implications for the CWCSEO and potential revenue loss for municipalities, which may be offset by state financial assistance. Tax incentives for grocery stores in food deserts are set to begin with the assessment years starting on October 1, 2023, and October 1, 2024. The bill defines the criteria for grocery stores to qualify for tax abatements and the terms of labor peace agreements. Additionally, the DECD commissioner is tasked with developing a strategic plan to encourage grocery store construction in food deserts, with a report due by January 1, 2024.