Arkansas HB1965: TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL ACT OF 2025; AND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR HEALTHY FOOD RETAILERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

What the bill says

An act to be entitled an act to create the arkansas healthy food retail act of 2025; to provide financial incentives for healthy food retailers in underserved communities; and for other purposes. subtitle to create the arkansas healthy food retail act of 2025; and to provide financial incentives for healthy food retailers in underserved communities.

From the enrolled text:

An Act To Be Entitled AN ACT TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL ACT OF 2025; TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR HEALTHY FOOD RETAILERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL ACT OF 2025; AND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR HEALTHY FOOD RETAILERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 15, Chapter 4, is amended to add an additional subchapter to read as follows: Subchapter 40 -- Arkansas Healthy Food Retail Act of 2025 15-4-4001. Title. This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Arkansas Healthy Food Retail Act of 2025". 15-4-4002. Legislative findings and intent. (a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) When fresh produce and other healthy foods are not readily available or affordable, people, particularly low-income families, children, and the elderly, face serious barriers to eating a healthy diet; (2) Research in Arkansas and the nation shows that residents of *JLL147* 03/28/2025 11:20:35 AM JLL147 HB1965 low-income, minority, and rural communities are most often affected by high rates of obesity and poor access to supermarkets and other healthy food retailers; (3) Obesity, which frequently results from poor diet and physical inactivity, is America's fast-growing cause of disease and death; (4) Arkansas has …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Tippi McCullough (D, 74) · primary sponsor
• Kim Hammer (R, 16)

Latest actions

1. April 17, 2025: Notification that HB1965 is now Act 870
2. April 15, 2025: Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
3. April 14, 2025: TO BE ENROLLED
4. April 14, 2025: Returned from the Senate as passed.
5. April 14, 2025: Returned to the House as passed.
6. April 14, 2025: Read the third time and passed.
7. April 9, 2025: Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
8. April 7, 2025: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE
9. April 7, 2025: Received from the House.
10. April 7, 2025: Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

Votes

• Senate Roll Call #1240 (April 14, 2025): 22 yea, 10 nay, passed
• House Roll Call #978 (April 7, 2025): 58 yea, 28 nay, passed
• House Roll Call #561 (March 13, 2025): 99 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate Roll Call #421 (March 5, 2025): 35 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HB1965?

HB1965 is a bill in the Arkansas Legislature (95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)): TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL ACT OF 2025; AND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR HEALTHY FOOD RETAILERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

What does HB1965 do?

In its own words: An act to be entitled an act to create the arkansas healthy food retail act of 2025; to provide financial incentives for healthy food retailers in underserved communities; and for other purposes. subtitle to create the arkansas healthy food retail act of 2025; and to provide financial incentives for healthy food retailers in underserved communities.

What is the status of HB1965?

Chaptered as of April 17, 2025. Latest action: Notification that HB1965 is now Act 870 (April 17, 2025).

Who sponsored HB1965?

Tippi McCullough (D, 74), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for HB1965?

On the Arkansas Legislature website: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R&measureno=HB1965