The bill aims to develop a comprehensive strategy for statewide food security in Washington, with the goals of ending hunger, reducing diet-related environmental health disparities, and enhancing agricultural sustainability and resilience. The Department of Agriculture is tasked with creating this strategy, which will involve collaboration with various state departments, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations focused on hunger relief. The strategy must define food security in terms of access and affordability, identify barriers to farming, support urban agriculture, and promote healthy food access and physical activity.
Additionally, the bill outlines specific areas that the strategy must address, including agricultural resilience, land access, and the integration of nutrition and health. The Department of Agriculture is required to submit the completed strategy to the legislature by July 1, 2027. Both sections of the bill include an expiration date of July 1, 2028, indicating a timeline for the implementation and review of the food security strategy.