HB 89 creates a new section of Florida law to encourage the development of small-footprint grocery stores in “food insecure areas,” which the bill defines as areas with low income and limited access to supermarkets. The bill’s findings state that limited access to affordable, healthy food—especially fresh fruits and vegetables—poses a threat to public health, safety, and welfare, and that it is a public purpose to promote development in these areas.
The bill defines key terms such as “food insecure area,” “nutrient-dense food,” “small-footprint grocery store,” and “supermarket.” A qualifying small-footprint grocery store must sell products at wholesale or retail, derive at least 30 percent of gross receipts from nutrient-dense foods, and operate in a food insecure area. The bill authorizes local governments to adopt land development regulations and comprehensive plan provisions allowing this type of land use, and it also allows local governments to require mandatory reporting from these stores. The act would take effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 89 would add s. 163.31791, F.S., giving local governments express statutory authority to permit and plan for small-footprint grocery stores in designated food insecure areas. It does not mandate local action, but it removes barriers by allowing zoning and comprehensive plan changes that support grocery access in underserved communities. The bill could affect local land use regulation, comprehensive planning, and reporting requirements for qualifying grocery operators, while indirectly influencing economic development and public health policy.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text, the measure is framed positively as a public health and community access initiative, with an emphasis on improving availability of healthy food in underserved areas. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented opposition or support from debate or roll call history in the materials supplied. The overall tone of the bill is policy-oriented and supportive of local flexibility.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely to be the scope of local government authority, the definition and identification of qualifying food insecure areas, and the reporting obligations that local governments may impose on small-footprint grocery stores. Stakeholders concerned about land-use regulation may question whether the bill creates sufficient incentives or whether it could impose administrative burdens on businesses. Others may debate whether the 30 percent nutrient-dense food sales threshold and the distance/income criteria appropriately target the communities most in need.