Image by Peggy Chai from Pixabay
March 3, 2026 - Assemblymember Alex Lee has introduced legislation to create a state initiative focused on fighting hunger. His efforts come at a time of drastic Republican federal funding cuts to safety net programs, with millions of Californians bracing for the sweeping impacts. As the need for food assistance continues to grow, Assemblymember Lee’s AB 2213 will ensure direct funding to combat rising levels of food insecurity.
By reviving the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative, AB 2213 will bolster investments in food aid and ensure a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to reduce hunger. The bill creates a dedicated fund in the State Treasury to leverage public, private, and philanthropic dollars for expanding healthy food access.
“As Washington abandons working families, California will step up to strengthen safety nets for families,” said Assemblymember Lee, Chair of the Human Services Committee. “California is the breadbasket of the nation, but thousands struggle to access nutritious and affordable food within view of vineyards and fields. In the face of direct federal assaults on our social services, the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative will provide much-needed investments for food security, strengthening crucial safety nets for families and farmers statewide.”
The Republican budget bill H.R. 1 decimates funding for food assistance programs like CalFresh (federally known as SNAP), which currently serves 5.5 million people. Every CalFresh family will be affected by the losses in billions of dollars of federal funds. Hundreds of thousands of people could see their CalFresh benefits eliminated. A series of draconian restrictions on eligibility have already taken effect, with much more to come. In April 2026, for instance, lawfully present immigrants who are asylees, refugees, parolees, and trafficking victims will no longer be eligible for SNAP. By June, punitive expansion of work requirements will put CalFresh benefits at risk for 303,000 people.
Amid devastating federal cuts, the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative will build much-needed state reserves to maintain investments in food aid. The bill will create a council represented by the State Treasury, and the Departments of Food and Agriculture, Health and Human Services, as well as Labor and Workforce Development, to implement the initiative and develop financing options. Funding sources may include new market tax credits, federal and foundation grant programs, as well as financing from private financial institutions.
It is estimated that roughly a quarter of California families experience food insecurity. More and more families are struggling to afford their groceries. Over the last 5 years, grocery prices have surged by almost 30%. The federal government’s trade war is causing prices to increase rapidly and hurting local farmers. Without safety net programs, roughly 2.6 million more Californians would have been in poverty.
“The re-establishment of the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative (CHFFI) is a critical step toward addressing the deep inequities that continue to drive food insecurity across our state,” said Arnold Sowell Jr., Executive Director of NextGen California, which is a co-sponsor of AB 2213 with the State Treasurer’s Office. “Having worked on the original CHFFI legislation in 2011, I understand firsthand the statewide impact of its mission - to expand access to healthy, affordable food while strengthening local food systems. At NextGen, we believe no Californian should be left behind, and restoring this program is long overdue, especially for children in underserved communities who continue to bear the greatest burden of food insecurity.”
"California is the fourth largest economy in the world and an agricultural powerhouse but unfortunately, more than one million Californians live in food deserts, communities without reliable access to fresh, affordable, and healthy food,” said California Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA. “Re-establishing and funding the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative Council within the Treasurer’s Office will help to eliminate food deserts through investment in grocery stores, food co-ops, and farmers’ markets in the communities that need them most."
"I strongly support the introduction of AB 2213, which re-establishes the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative (CHFFI) in the Treasurer’s Office," said Assembly Speaker Emeritus John A. Pérez, who authored the 2011 legislation to create the initiative. "CHFFI takes a comprehensive approach to strengthening our food system while expanding access to healthy, affordable food in communities that need it most. As the author of the original legislation, I believe restoring and modernizing this program is long overdue. I commend Assemblymember Alex Lee and Treasurer Fiona Ma for acting with urgency to confront the food insecurity crisis affecting millions of Californians, particularly children and families in low-income communities."
The California Healthy Food Financing Initiative is part of Assemblymember Lee’s broader efforts to ensure food security for all Californians. Food assistance and nutrition programs are Assemblymember Lee’s policy area of expertise as Chair of the Human Services Committee. Over the last two years, he has secured $46 million in state funding to revive the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program, which improves access to fresh fruits and vegetables. In order to expand the successful program, the Assemblymember is seeking an additional $100 million to double its reach statewide.
Source: Assemblymember Alex Lee
