2024 ABH Legislative Priorities
The 2024 legislative session is picking up speed and we are excited to share the policies we are supporting this year.
In 2024, ABH is again supporting HF2177/SF2123 which would eliminate the sale of all commercial flavored tobacco products, including menthol, from the state marketplace. Commercial tobacco continues to contribute to preventable disease and death in Minnesota, and flavored products are to blame for the pernicious increase in vaping rates among youth and continued usage among Black, low-wage, American Indian and LGBTQ+ communities who have been intensely targeted by Big Tobacco for decades.
Flavored products are also a concern with the recent legalization of recreational cannabis. In hopes of preventing the cannabis industry from mirroring the same predatory tactics of the commercial tobacco industry, ABH also supports HF 4251, which would prohibit the sale of flavored cannabis products that can be burned, inhaled or vaporized. This legislation would not impact edible cannabis products.
Fact sheets on both issues can be found by visiting the Minnesotans for a Smoke Free Generation website.
In 2024, ABH is continuing to expand our healthy eating and hunger relief programming. This year, we are proud to support HF 4108/SF4146 which would increase the minimum benefit for SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program) recipients, aged 55+, from $23 per month to $50 per month. The current federal minimum for SNAP recipients is far too low, and does not meet the need for most, especially seniors with high medical, prescription, housing costs and dietary needs. This proposed legislation can make a significant impact in the fight against food insecurity and help ensure that vulnerable adults have more reliable access to healthy and culturally relevant foods.
Secondly, since 2015 the Market Bucks program has allowed SNAP eligible households to stretch their EBT spending at farmers markets in Minnesota. Market Bucks matches EBT spending dollar-for-dollar, up to $10, each time a customer with SNAP benefits visits a participating farmers market. With over 17,000 SNAP users visiting their farmers market and taking advantage of the program in 2021, this program is hugely popular. This session ABH will be supporting legislation that requests funding to pilot a Fresh Bucks program, which would expand Market Bucks to food retailers, including larger grocery stores and small corner stores, throughout the state year-round. This pilot program has the potential to address current unmet nutritional needs and increase access for SNAP recipients to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables year-round.
Interested in supporting any of these policy priorities? Please contact Lucy Faerber to connect about advocacy opportunities!