Bill > SF1858

This bill transfers the Healthy Eating, Here at Home program from the Minnesota Humanities Center to the Department of Health and establishes a new Fresh Bucks Pilot Program, both aimed at supporting low-income Minnesotans' access to nutritious food. The bill modifies existing law to include SUN bucks (Summer EBT) alongside SNAP benefits and expands the program's scope. Under the Healthy Eating program, nonprofit organizations will continue to receive grants to provide up to $10 vouchers to SNAP or SUN bucks participants for purchasing healthy foods at farmers' markets, mobile markets, and direct-farmer sales. The new Fresh Bucks Pilot Program goes further by offering a dollar-for-dollar match (up to $20 per day and $80 per month) for produce purchases at SNAP retailers. The bill appropriates $500,000 annually for two years for the Healthy Eating program and $1 million annually for two years for the Fresh Bucks Pilot Program. The program will be administered by the Department of Health with assistance from a nonprofit organization, and SNAP retailers must meet specific criteria to participate. The bill also requires an annual report detailing the program's reach, costs, and effectiveness, with the goal of supporting nutritious diet choices for low-income households.

Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1858&ssn=0&y=2025