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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: APPROP DPA 16-1-0-1 |
HB 2224: produce incentive program; annual appropriation
Sponsor: Representative Nguyen, LD 1
Caucus & COW
Overview
Appropriates $2,000,000 ongoing from the state General Fund (GF), beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, to the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) to implement the Produce Incentive Program (Program).
History
The U.S. Food and Nutrition Service's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides financial assistance to eligible low-income households to purchase nutritionally adequate, low-cost foods. This assistance is available to households that meet financial eligibility tests for monthly income, fulfill work-related requirements and satisfy citizenship and legal permanent residence tests (7 U.S.C. § 2012 et seq.).
The Program, known as the Double Up Food Bucks Program, provides matching monies up to $20 per site per transaction for a SNAP enrollee, subject to available monies, for enrollees to purchase eligible Arizona-grown fruits and vegetables. Eligible goods can only be purchased at SNAP-authorized farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets, community supported agriculture sites and grocery stores. DES must also use Program monies to research and evaluate the Program's impact for SNAP enrollees and Arizona agricultural producers (A.R.S. § 46-231).
The FY 2026 General Appropriations Act included a one-time increase of $2,000,000 from the GF in FY 2026 for the Program (FY 2026 Appropriations Report).
Provisions
1. Appropriates $2,000,000 from the GF in FY 2027 and each year thereafter to DES for the implementation of the Program. (Sec. 1)
2. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing. (Sec. 1)
Amendments
Committee on Appropriations
1. Reduces the appropriation to $1,000,000.
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Initials DS HB 2224
1/29/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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