The Prince George's County Council voted to report CB-67, the Food as Medicine Health Program Act of 2025, favorably after a multi-hour public hearing that drew farmers, health-care providers and community groups urging the county to treat food as part of medical care.

CB-67 would establish a Food as Medicine program within the County Health Department to support produce prescriptions, medically tailored groceries, nutrition counseling, local farm partnerships and reporting requirements. Sponsors described the proposal as a preventive-health initiative designed to reduce chronic disease while supporting local farmers and food businesses.

Supporters said the program would connect clinical care to community resources. "Food is not a luxury. It is health care," said Mel Johnson, founder and executive director of The Storehouse, a county food provider. Johnson testified that providing healthy food to people with chronic conditions can reduce hospitalizations and improve recovery.

Kim Lynch of the Prince George's Soil Conservation District told the council that local farms can contribute nutrient-dense produce and educational programming. "CB-67 supports health, education, economic development and improving the natural environment," Lynch said, urging coordination between farms, hospitals and schools.

Michelle Burton, program manager for the Prince George's County Food Equity Council, summarized results from a prior county pilot that provided $80 monthly produce vouchers, nutrition counseling and clinic connections. "Nearly 90 percent of participants stayed engaged, reported healthier eating, weight loss, and improved blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar," she said, citing improved BMI and self-reported mental-health outcomes.

Clinicians and social-service providers also spoke in favor. "Medically tailored meals save lives and health-care dollars," said Raissa Wells of Food & Friends, which provides home-delivered medically tailored meals to residents with serious illnesses.

Council members debated implementation, funding and partnerships during the post-hearing discussion. Councilmember LeGgay moved to report the bill favorably; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call. The clerk recorded 11 ayes and the motion carried.

Council members who spoke in favor framed the bill as prevention: encouraging healthy diets to reduce inflammation and chronic illness. Several members said the program would not only improve health outcomes but also reinvest dollars in the local economy by sourcing food from county farmers and vendors.

The bill now moves forward in the legislative process with direction from council members to coordinate measurable clinical indicators and to include smaller food-pantry providers in program design.

Speaker list

- Kim Lynch, Prince George's Soil Conservation District (presented testimony; 00:55:46)
- Mel Johnson, founder and executive director, The Storehouse (public witness; 00:59:53)
- Michelle Burton, program manager, Prince George's County Food Equity Council (pilot program summary; 01:21:38)
- Raissa Wells, government relations manager, Food & Friends (medically tailored meals; 01:23:30)
- Britney Drakeford, Capital Market (community-led research; 00:59:32)
- Councilmember Blige (bill sponsor)

Authorities

[]

Actions

[{
"kind":"motion",
"motion":"Move favorable report for CB-67 (Food as Medicine Health Program Act)",
"mover":"Councilmember Leggay",
"second":"Mister DeNoga",
"vote_record":[],
"tally":{"yes":11,"no":0,"abstain":0},
"outcome":"approved",
"notes":"Motion to report CB-67 favorably; roll-call vote recorded 11 ayes."
}]

Provenance

[{"block_id":"block_3275.55","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Public hearing bills for eligible adoption through reader, final enactment, c b 67, and that concerning Prince George's County, Buddhist Medicine Health Program Act of 2025 for the purpose of establishing the Prince George's County Buddhist Medicine health program within the County Department of Health...","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_6545.86","local_start":0,"local_end":80,"evidence_excerpt":"I came just in time. I vote aye and to explain my vote... Motion carries 11.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]

Topics

[{"name":"food_security","justification":"Bill establishes a Food as Medicine program to address food insecurity and chronic disease at the county level.","scoring":{"topic_relevance":1.00,"depth_score":0.95,"opinionatedness":0.05,"controversy":0.20,"civic_salience":0.90,"impactfulness":0.85,"geo_relevance":1.00}}]

Searchable tags

["food_as_medicine","health","nutrition","farmers","public_health","CB67"]