SF 1858 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Healthy eating, here at home program transfer to the Department of Health provision, fresh bucks pilot program establishment, and appropriation

This bill transfers Minnesota's "Healthy Eating, Here at Home" program (which provides $10 vouchers for SNAP/Summer EBT users to buy fresh food at farmers' markets) from the Minnesota Humanities Center to the Department of Health. It also establishes the "Fresh Bucks" pilot program, allowing SNAP and Summer EBT participants to get a dollar-for-dollar match on fresh produce purchases (up to $20 daily/$80 monthly) at participating retailers like grocery stores. Both programs target low-income households using federal nutrition benefits, with the Fresh Bucks program specifically requiring produce to be fresh fruits/vegetables without added sugars or fats. The bill appropriates funds for implementation and requires annual reporting on program usage and effectiveness.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Last action Mar 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction 1st Engrossment · 5 edits · Mar 6, 2025
MODERATE
This bill transfers administration of the 'Healthy Eating, Here at Home' program from the Minnesota Humanities Center to the Department of Health. It also establishes a new 'Fresh Bucks' pilot program to help SNAP and Summer EBT recipients buy fresh produce. The text updates terminology to reflect these administrative changes and clarifies definitions for eligible households and program benefits.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded by adding a new 'Fresh Bucks' pilot program and shifting the administrative authority for the existing program from the Minnesota Humanities Center to the Department of Health.
SCOPE

Administrative authority for the 'Healthy Eating, Here at Home' program changed from the Minnesota Humanities Center to the Department of Health.

A new 'Fresh Bucks' pilot program was added to help SNAP and Summer EBT participants purchase fresh produce from retailers.

DEFINITION

The term 'Summer EBT' was updated to 'SUN bucks (Summer EBT)' in multiple sections to reflect the official program name.

The definition of 'Produce' was expanded to explicitly include herbs in addition to fruits and vegetables.

REQUIREMENT

Reporting requirements for the program were updated to direct reports to the Department of Health commissioner instead of the Minnesota Humanities Center.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Comm report: To pass and re-referred to Health and Human Services
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to State and Local Government
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health and Human Services
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduction and first reading
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors