HB 22-1380 Summary

• Creates a community food access program to improve access to healthy foods in low-income areas by supporting small food retailers with technical assistance, fee subsidies, and grants up to $25,000

• Establishes a high-quality work management system starting July 1, 2022, to streamline applications for SNAP, Medicaid, and Colorado Works programs and improve county case management services

• Implements fuel assistance payments via electronic benefits transfer cards starting July 1, 2024, with database connections to enable time-limited food incentive programs

• Appropriates $14 million total from the Economic Recovery and Relief Cash Fund for 2022-23: $3 million for work management systems, $2 million for fuel assistance, $1 million for EBT programming, and $8 million for food access programs

• All programs sunset September 1, 2027, with funds required to be spent or obligated by December 30, 2024, and expended by December 31, 2026, in compliance with the federal American Rescue Plan Act