SHB 2463
In CommitteeHouse
Farmers/food programs
Supporting Washington farmers feeding families.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates two new state programs to help Washington farmers donate or sell surplus food to hunger relief groups: one for large-scale food donations and another for direct contracts with small farms. It aims to reduce food waste and increase access to fresh, local food for people in need across the state.
- Establishes the Washington farm donation grant program to buy Washington-grown produce, grains, dairy, and protein at risk of waste and distribute it to hunger relief organizations.
- Prioritizes grant recipients with at least five years of experience coordinating agricultural donations to food banks and distribution centers.
- Allows grant recipients to use funds to pay farmers for pick-and-pack costs, harvest labor, and logistical/administrative expenses related to food acquisition and delivery.
- Creates the farm to food pantry program, which provides upfront funding and support to help hunger relief organizations sign wholesale contracts with small-scale local farmers.
- Requires grant recipients to report outcomes and spending to the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
- Directs the department to prioritize equitable benefits for minority, women, veteran, and tribal farmers.
Who is affected
- Hunger relief organizations — Nonprofit hunger relief organizations that coordinate food distribution can receive grants to buy food directly from Washington farmers, with priority given to those with at least five years of experience in food donation coordination.
- Farmers (especially small-scale and underserved) — Washington farmers—especially small-scale, minority, women, veteran, and tribal farmers—can benefit from new opportunities to sell surplus or at-risk produce through direct contracts with food pantries and relief groups.
- Food banks and distribution centers — Local food banks and their distribution centers gain new funding and support to expand food procurement from in-state farms, helping feed more people across Washington.
- People facing food insecurity — Low-income Washington residents who rely on food assistance programs benefit from increased access to fresh, locally grown food through expanded donation and purchase programs.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The bill improves access to fresh, locally grown produce for people experiencing food insecurity—reducing reliance on processed or donated surplus food, which can improve nutritional intake and long-term health outcomes, especially for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension that disproportionately affect low-income communities.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (2)(d), (3); Sec. 2(1), (2)By prioritizing minority, women, veteran, and tribal farmers and enabling direct contracts with small-scale farms, the bill creates new revenue streams for historically underserved agricultural producers, potentially increasing farm viability and local job retention in rural areas.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(d); Sec. 2(2)Procuring food at risk of waste reduces agricultural waste and associated greenhouse gas emissions from landfilled produce, while shortening supply chains (farm-to-pantry) lowers transportation emissions—contributing modestly to state climate goals.
EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b), (c); Sec. 2(2)The bill leverages existing infrastructure (e.g., food banks, distribution centers) and requires reporting to the Department of Agriculture, enabling state oversight while minimizing duplication of local efforts—potentially reducing administrative burden on local governments and nonprofits.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a); Sec. 2(2)The $10 million appropriation provides upfront funding to hunger relief organizations to purchase food directly from farmers—reducing cash-flow constraints and enabling more consistent procurement, which can stabilize local food markets and support small farms during lean seasons.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3); Sec. 2(2)
Potential Concerns (3)
The bill diverts $10 million from the state’s general fund—funds that could otherwise support public health, emergency response, or law enforcement—to fund food donation programs. While food insecurity has indirect public safety implications (e.g., crime, social instability), this reallocation reduces general fund flexibility for core safety services, especially if economic downturns increase demand for those services.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3); Sec. 2(2)Grant eligibility prioritizes organizations with at least five years of experience coordinating agricultural donations, effectively excluding newer or smaller hunger-relief groups—many of which serve rural or tribal communities—limiting local innovation and potentially consolidating food distribution into fewer, larger nonprofits.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(c)By focusing on food procurement rather than addressing root causes of food insecurity (e.g., low wages, unaffordable housing, underemployment), the bill treats symptoms rather than systemic drivers—potentially reducing short-term hunger but failing to improve long-term household stability.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3); Sec. 2(2)
Who Is Most Affected
Hunger relief organizations gain new funding and capacity to expand food procurement, but must meet reporting requirements and may face administrative strain if scaling rapidly without additional staffing or infrastructure.
Small-scale, minority, women, veteran, and tribal farmers gain new market access and revenue opportunities, especially through the farm-to-pantry program, though success depends on whether contracts are sustainable beyond the grant period.
Large food banks and established distribution centers benefit from priority in the grant program, potentially strengthening their role—but may crowd out newer or smaller local groups unable to meet the five-year experience threshold.
Low-income households, especially those in food deserts or relying on emergency food assistance, gain improved access to fresh produce and protein, but long-term impact depends on whether the program becomes permanent and scalable.
State government incurs a $10 million biennial cost from the general fund, which could reduce flexibility for other priorities—but may yield long-term savings by improving population health and reducing demand for emergency health services.