The House Rules Committee on Feb. 14 reported HJ 447, a resolution directing the Commission to End Hunger to develop a statewide food-desert mapping tool that uses geographic, socioeconomic and demographic data to identify food deserts and so-called food-apartheid zones.

The resolution’s sponsor told the committee the tool is intended to replace outdated studies and to add non‑proximity measures such as transportation barriers and local food sources so policymakers can target interventions. "We need current comprehensive data to address today's challenges," the sponsor said.

The resolution, explained Delegate Anthony, stems from the commission’s work plan and would direct the commission to assemble a mapping tool that integrates multiple data sources to support data‑driven solutions. Committee members pressed staff about whether the Division of Legislative Services (DLS) could provide the technical assistance the tool would require without additional funding. A staff speaker said DLS "will be the appropriate entity to provide the technical support" but did not confirm that the work could be done within existing resources.

The panel voted to report the resolution. Committee members did not adopt any funding amendments during the Rules meeting; the resolution, as reported, directs the commission to develop the tool and requests technical support from legislative services but does not itself appropriate funds.

If enacted, the mapping tool would update the last statewide study cited in testimony (initial study 2013, with an update in 2017) and would expand measures beyond simple distance-to-store metrics to include transportation access, local food sources and systemic inequities, according to testimony.

Votes and next steps: HJ 447 was reported by the Rules Committee and will proceed to subsequent referral or floor consideration per legislative process.