To enact section 122.162 of the Revised Code to create a food desert elimination grant program and to make an appropriation.
Summary
HB543 would create a new food desert elimination grant program within the Ohio Department of Development. The program is intended to encourage grocery retailers to open or expand stores in food deserts—areas identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as having limited access to fruits, vegetables, and other healthful foods. Eligible retailers would need to sell or propose to sell fresh produce, shelf-stable items, and other healthy foods, and would have to document that the store is or will be located in a food desert.
The bill also makes a direct appropriation of $200,000 from the General Revenue Fund in each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support the program. Individual grocery retailers could receive no more than $15,000 in a fiscal year. Grant recipients would be required to submit quarterly reports to the department on the amount of state funds received, the health impact of the program, and any other information needed for oversight and evaluation.
Impact
If enacted, HB543 would add section 122.162 to the Revised Code and give the Department of Development authority to design, administer, and enforce a new grant program focused on grocery access in underserved areas. It would create new state spending authority for the program and require the department to establish application procedures, eligibility verification, and reporting requirements for participating retailers. The bill would primarily affect grocery retailers seeking to locate in food deserts, as well as state agencies responsible for economic development and program oversight.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the House Community Revitalization Committee, but there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s purpose and structure, it appears to be framed as a targeted economic development and public health measure aimed at improving access to healthy food in underserved communities. No formal opposition or support is documented in the supplied context.
Contention
Because there are no committee transcripts or votes, no specific points of contention are recorded in the provided materials. Potential areas of debate, based on the bill text, could include whether the grant amount is sufficient to influence retailer location decisions, how food deserts will be verified, whether the program should prioritize certain communities, and whether the state should fund grocery store incentives versus other approaches to food access. The bill’s reporting requirements and administrative discretion for the Department of Development could also be points of discussion.
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