Florida House lawmakers file bipartisan bill encouraging construction of grocery stores in food deserts

Jan 03, 2025

Reps. Michelle Rayner, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, and Fiona McFarland, a Republican from Sarasota, co-sponsored a bill Friday to tackle food insecurity through land development. HB 89 would allow local governments to authorize “small-footprint grocery stores” in food insecure areas, as designated by the state Office of Economic and Demographic Research.