Mississippi Grocery Initiative Act; create.

HB 48, the Mississippi Grocery Initiative Act, would have created a state program administered by the Department of Human Services to expand access to healthy foods in Mississippi food deserts - areas lacking grocery stores within ½ mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural). It would have provided grants and financial assistance to eligible food resources (like grocery stores, food banks, and specialty grocers) in these areas to cover equipment, capital expenses, or operational costs, prioritizing locations with high poverty rates. The program would have also offered technical assistance to participants to help navigate regulations and access funding. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.