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Bill will help enhance Colorado’s food system infrastructure
(Mar 5) – The House Rural Affairs and Agriculture committee gave approval today to Rep. Barbara McLachlan and Rep. Rochelle Galindo’s bill to advance recommendations that strengthen healthy food access for all Coloradans through Colorado agriculture and local food systems and economies.
“We need to find a way to increase access to healthy food while also investing in our local, regional, and state economies,” said Rep. McLachlan, D-Durango. “This bill will help increase access to fresh, healthy food for our most vulnerable communities and redirect federal money to Colorado farmers.”
HB19-1202 will combine the existing Food System Advisory Council with the Farm to School Task Force and places the reconstituted Colorado Food System Advisory Council within Colorado State University. Through this, the university can also look at increasing and strengthening WIC and SNAP retailers as it relates to the access to and provision of healthy foods.
“Our vulnerable populations should have access to a food system that will ensure they have access to healthy foods,” said Rep. Galindo, D-Greeley. “Leveraging the purchasing power of our school districts and health care systems will create more marketing connections with producers to strengthen the food system.”
HB19-1202 passed committee with a bipartisan vote of 9-2 and now heads to the Appropriations committee.