The bill aims to enhance statewide food security in Washington by developing a comprehensive strategy to end hunger, reduce diet-related health disparities, and improve agricultural viability and supply chain resilience. It establishes a new section that mandates the Department of Agriculture to coordinate efforts with various stakeholders, including state agencies, tribes, and nonprofit organizations, to create this strategy. The strategy must define food security, develop performance metrics, and identify barriers to food production, while also ensuring that the needs of food-insecure households, particularly those from the BIPOC community, are addressed. The department is required to report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2027.

Additionally, the bill amends RCW 43.23.030 to expand the responsibilities of the Director of Agriculture, who will now monitor food system performance and coordinate statewide food security efforts. The director is tasked with evaluating regulatory costs impacting agricultural production and reporting on the competitiveness of Washington's agricultural landscape starting June 30, 2030. The bill includes provisions for the strategy's expiration on July 1, 2028, ensuring that the initiative is time-bound and focused on measurable outcomes.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 43.23.030
Substitute bill: 43.23.030