H-3481.1
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2297
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By House Finance (originally sponsored by Representatives Farivar, Mena, Berry, Parshley, Ryu, Tharinger, Reeves, Reed, Cortes, Street, Kloba, Scott, Thomas, Taylor, Doglio, Stonier, Morgan, Gregerson, Ormsby, Fosse, Hill, Pollet, Bernbaum, Salahuddin, and Timmons)
READ FIRST TIME 02/09/26.
AN ACT Relating to incentivizing grocery stores located in underserved communities; amending RCW 35.102.040 and 35.21.710 ; adding a new section to chapter 82.08 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.12 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 82.04 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 84 RCW; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and providing expiration dates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant food is essential to health, economic stability, and community well-being. Yet many Washington residents, particularly low-income households, communities of color, rural residents, immigrants and refugees, and people with limited transportation options continue to face barriers to food access due to store closures, uneven infrastructure, and long-standing patterns of disinvestment.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature to provide locally controlled tools to preserve existing grocery stores and support the development and retention of grocery stores in underserved communities where market forces alone have not met community needs. By reducing structural cost barriers, this act is intended to strengthen community-serving food retailers and support local jobs and neighborhood stability. The legislature further intends that these incentives be implemented in a manner responsive to local conditions and as part of a broader effort to promote health equity, economic justice, and long-term community stability.