North Carolina HB 1057: WC/COVID-19 Front Line Coverage/Funds.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1057

Short Title: Affordable Food Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Pittman, Ager, Jeffers, and G. Pierce (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 28, 2026
*H1057-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN FOOD SECURITY, SUPPORT NORTH CAROLINA 2
FARMERS, PROTECT AGRICULTURAL LAND, EXPAND FOOD ACCESS IN URBAN 3
AND RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND PROHIBIT THE PRACTICE OF DYNAMIC 4
PRICING IN RETAIL GROCERY STORES. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
7
PART I. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS 8
SECTION 1. Legislative Findings. ‒ The General Assembly makes the following 9
findings: 10
(1) Food insecurity has increased across North Carolina due to rising food costs, 11
supply chain disruptions, and reductions in federal nutrition and food 12
assistance programs. 13
(2) North Carolina farmers and food producers face economic instability resulting 14
from market volatility, declining institutional demand, and development 15
pressures on agricultural land. 16
(3) Urban, rural, military, and veteran populations experience distinct food access 17
challenges that require targeted and coordinated State responses. 18
(4) Preservation of farmland is essential to long-term food security, rural 19
economic stability, and responsible land-use planning. North Carolina is 20
expected to lose 1,200,000 acres of farmland by 2040 to urban and residential 21
development, the second most farmland lost among any state in the nation. 22
(5) Strategic State investment in food procurement, distribution infrastructure, 23
and nutrition assistance can simultaneously strengthen farm viability and 24
improve food access. 25
26
PART II. SNAP NUTRITION INCENTIVE WAIVER/PROGRAMS 27
SECTION 2.1.(a) By January 1, 2027, the Department of Health and Human 28
Services, Division of Social Services (Division), shall request a waiver from the United States 29
Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorizing the State to operate a nutrition incentive program 30
that would increase the purchasing power of food and nutrition services benefits (also known as 31
the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) for fruits, vegetables, and other 32
healthy foods. The Division shall submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee 33
on Health and Human Services within 30 days of the USDA's decision to either grant or deny the 34
waiver. 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1057-First Edition
SECTION 2.1.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law. 1
SECTION 2.2.(a) Part 5 of Article 2 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes is 2
amended by adding a new section to read: 3
"§ 108A-53.5. Incentive programs for food and nutrition services. 4
(a) Purpose. – The purpose of this section is to expand access to nutritious food for 5
recipients of food and nutrition services programs in this State by supporting and funding 6
nutrition incentive programs that increase the purchasing power of food and nutrition services 7
benefits for fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods. 8
(b) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 9
(1) Double-Up Food Bucks. – Nutrition incentive programs modeled on or 10
affiliated with the Double-Up Food Bucks network that match food and 11
nutrition services electronic benefit transfer (EBT) benefits for the purchase 12
of eligible foods at participating locations. 13
(2) Nutrition incentive program. – A program that increases the purchasing power 14
of food and nutrition services benefits by providing matching funds, tokens, 15
credits, or similar incentives for the purchase of fruits, vegetables, and other 16
nutritious foods at authorized retail locations, including grocery stores, 17
farmers markets, farm stands, community-supported agriculture programs, 18
mobile markets, or other qualifying vendors. 19
(3) SNAP. – The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program also known 20
as the State's food and nutrition assistance program. 21
(c) Program Authorization and Administration. – The Department shall administer food 22
and nutrition services nutrition incentive programs as authorized by federal law and in 23
accordance with this section. In administering the program, the Department shall do each of the 24
following: 25
(1) Establish, operate, expand, or support the State's participation in Double-Up 26
Food Bucks, Market Match, Healthy Incentives Program, or similar SNAP 27
nutrition incentive programs. 28
(2) Enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, or memoranda of understanding 29
with nonprofit organizations, local governments, farmers, farmers market 30
associations, grocery retailers, food cooperatives, or other public or private 31
entities to implement and operate nutrition incentive programs. 32
(3) Seek, receive, accept, and adminis