H-2946.1
HOUSE BILL 2573
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Pollet, Fosse, Lekanoff, Mena, Santos, Reeves, Parshley, Farivar, Gregerson, Berry, Cortes, Stearns, Nance, and Goodman
Read first time 01/19/26. Referred to Committee on Local Government.
AN ACT Relating to community access to food, medicine, and health services; amending RCW 36.70A.020 and 36.70A.070 ; adding new sections to chapter 36.70A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70A.02 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35A.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.01 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 82 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Access to a wide range of healthy foods, basic health products, and prescription drugs at reasonable prices within communities is essential for public health and is a goal of the growth management act. It is the intent of the legislature to protect public health, promote good health in all communities, and reduce disparities in adverse health outcomes for the residents of overburdened communities and members of federally recognized tribes designated by the state pursuant to the healthy environment for all act.
The legislature finds that the rapid closure of supermarkets, full service grocery stores, and pharmacies without notice to local governments creates "food deserts" due to lack of access to a full range of groceries, including fresh produce, health products, and household essentials at reasonable prices for residents in areas where cities have planned increased density, particularly for vulnerable populations, based on access to supermarkets, full service grocery stores, and pharmacies.