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House committee hears debate over municipal grocery stores after closures in Seattle-area neighborhoods
Summary
Lawmakers and witnesses debated House Bill 23-13, which would allow cities to establish publicly owned grocery stores and use capital grants to acquire or rehabilitate property; the sponsor said the bill is an optional tool for underserved areas, while grocers and students warned it could undercut small independent stores.
Madam Chair opened the public hearing on House Bill 23-13, which would authorize cities to establish publicly owned grocery stores and make capital grants available for site acquisition, rehabilitation and operating costs.
Committee staff Elizabeth Ren summarized the bill and a proposed substitute that removes eminent domain and narrows tax-increment financing eligibility while requiring stores seeking capital grants to be located in designated underserved areas. "A city may apply for a capital grant when establishing a publicly owned grocery store," Ren told members.
Sponsor Representative Daria Farvar (46th Legislative District) said the measure is intended as an "option" for local governments where private businesses have…
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