This bill aims to enhance health initiatives in Minnesota by transferring the "healthy eating, here at home" program from the Minnesota Humanities Center to the Department of Health, and establishing a new "fresh bucks pilot program." The healthy eating program will now provide incentives for low-income residents to use federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or SUN bucks (Summer EBT) at local farmers' markets and direct-farmer sales. The bill amends several subdivisions of Minnesota Statutes 2024, specifically section 138.912, to reflect this transfer and the new definitions and responsibilities associated with the program. Notably, the bill repeals subdivision 7 of the same section, which previously required the commissioner of children, youth, and families to seek federal approval for grocery store participation in the program.

The fresh bucks pilot program is designed to help eligible households purchase fresh produce by offering a dollar-for-dollar match on produce purchases made with EBT cards, up to a maximum of $20 per day and $80 per month. The bill outlines the administration of this program, including the selection criteria for participating SNAP retailers and the responsibilities of nonprofit organizations in implementing the program. Additionally, it appropriates $500,000 for the healthy eating program and $1,000,000 for the fresh bucks pilot program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The bill also includes provisions for reporting on the program's effectiveness and requires the revisor of statutes to renumber the relevant sections accordingly.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 138.912
1st Engrossment: 138.912