MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representatives Gibbs (72nd), Summers, Butler-Washington, Jackson (45th), James-Jones, Nelson
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO TRACK FOOD DESERTS WITHIN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE BY DECEMBER 31 OF EACH YEAR IDENTIFYING THE LOCATION OF FOOD DESERTS IN THE STATE AND HEALTH ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH FOOD DESERTS; TO DEFINE THE TERM "FOOD DESERT"; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The State Department of Health shall provide an annual report to the Legislature by December 31 of each year which identifies the locations of food deserts within the State of Mississippi and provides information about health issues associated with food deserts. If the annual report contains information from the federal government which identifies the locations of food deserts in the state, and provides information on health issues associated with food deserts, then the
requirements of this section are satisfied. For the
purposes of this section, the term "food desert" means an area with a poverty rate of at least twenty percent (20%) where at least one-third (1/3) of the population lives more than a mile from a supermarket or large grocery store, farmers' market or
healthy food provider, which results in the area being void of fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthful whole foods due, in part, to a lack of access and availability.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.