H.B. No. 231 proposes a study by the Department of State Health Services on food deserts and their disproportionate impact on communities of color. The bill defines "food desert" as an area with limited access to healthy and nutritious food and outlines the department's responsibilities in conducting the study. This includes investigating the causes, health effects, and financial impacts of food deserts, as well as comparing access to nutritious food based on age, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background. The department is also tasked with examining the origins of the disproportionate impact of food deserts on communities of color.

Following the study, the department is required to develop recommendations for legislative and other actions aimed at addressing disparities in food access and increasing access to healthy food. A written report summarizing the study's results and recommendations must be submitted to the legislature by September 1, 2026. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and will expire on September 1, 2027.