CA SB1419

Creates the Food Desert Elimination Grant Program under the Department of Food and Agriculture to expand access to healthy foods in food deserts and areas at risk of becoming food deserts through grants to grocery store operators

Establishes the Food Desert Elimination Fund in the General Fund and creates the California Equitable Food Access Account within it to receive and continuously appropriate nonstate, federal, and private funds for program purposes

Authorizes grants to grocery store operators for market feasibility studies, employee salaries, facility acquisition, capital improvements, equipment purchases, and other eligible costs to locate grocery stores in food deserts

Limits equipment upgrade grants to no more than 20 percent of total program funding and allows up to 10 percent of funding for technical assistance

Requires the department to report grant numbers and recipient locations to the Legislature by January 1, 2028, and repeals the program on December 31, 2030