SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) released the following statement after her bill was signed into law by Governor Newsom. Senate bill 628, known as the Human Right to Food Act, declares it the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient and healthy food.

“I thank the Governor for signing this bill into law because it is vital that food-related regulations should not solely focus on economic or industry factors, but should also prioritize the well-being and dignity of individuals and communities,” said Senator Melissa Hurtado. “By integrating the consideration of the human right to food into regulatory processes, SB 628 promotes a holistic approach to policymaking that takes into account not only the availability and accessibility of food but also factors such as nutrition, cultural appropriateness, and environmental sustainability.”

The bill directs all relevant state agencies, including the Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Department of Public Health to consider the human right to food when revising, adopting or establishing policies, regulations or grant criteria as they relate to the distribution of food and nutrition assistance. This effort aligns with actions taken at the Federal level by President Biden who declared via executive order in September 2022 a goal of ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity by 2030 so fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases— while reducing related health disparities.

###