A Healthier Tennessee Starts at the Grocery Store

Why I Called the Fresh Food Affordability Act the Best Bill of the Legislative Session

Tennessee should make it easier—not more expensive—for families to put healthy food on the table. That is why I called House Bill 2086, the Fresh Food Affordability Act, the best bill presented this session. I made that case during the Tennessee House Finance, Ways and Means Committee hearing, alongside a presentation from the Tennessee Department of Health.

The bill’s purpose is straightforward: eliminate the state sales tax on fresh fruits and vegetables, connecting grocery relief with an urgent public health need.

A public health challenge we cannot ignore

Our state cannot afford to accept poor health as normal. In the 2025 America’s Health Rankings report, Tennessee ranked 46th in health outcomes. The Tennessee Department of Health’s 2025 Diabetes Action Report estimated that more than 812,000 Tennesseans—14.6% of adults—had diabetes, based on 2023 data. Those numbers represent our neighbors, coworkers and loved ones. 

Our children face serious challenges, too. The state’s school BMI monitoring program found that 40.2% of assessed students were classified as overweight or obese during the 2022–23 school year. Childhood obesity can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. This is not a reason to shame children or parents. It is a reason to make healthier choices more accessible. 

Affordability matters. The Tennessee Department of Health reported that in 2022, 17.9% of Tennessee households with children had children who were food insecure—nearly one in five. When household budgets are tight, public policy should help families purchase nutritious food, not add another cost at checkout. 

Make the healthy choice more affordable

Eating more fruits and vegetables is an important part of a healthy diet. They provide essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. Replacing some calorie-dense foods with fruits and vegetables can help people maintain a healthy weight, while healthy eating patterns can reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

But telling families to eat better is not enough. We must also consider what they can afford. House Bill 2086 offers a targeted response by removing the state sales tax from fresh produce. It would not dictate what anyone must buy. It would let families keep more of their money when they choose fresh fruits and vegetables.

Prevention is the strongest argument for this legislation. We should not wait until someone develops a chronic illness before taking their health seriously. We should help create the conditions for healthier lives in the first place. A produce tax exemption alone will not solve diabetes, childhood obesity or every barrier to good nutrition. Transportation, food availability, education and access to health care also matter. But this bill advances a practical goal: making healthy food more affordable.

Americans spend hundreds of billions of dollars each year treating major conditions linked to diet.

The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), which studies the quality, safety and cost of health care, estimated that treating four major groups of diet-related conditions cost about $334 billion a year in 2021–22. Making fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable can support healthier choices and may help improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs over time.

Everyone has to eat, so this bill addresses an issue that touches every Tennessean. I cannot think of another piece of legislation presented this session with the potential to benefit all Tennesseans. The latest U.S. Census Bureau estimate puts our state’s population at 7,315,076. 

That is why I called House Bill 2086 the best bill presented this session: it brings together two priorities that should unite us—helping families afford groceries and helping Tennesseans build healthier lives. If we want better health outcomes, we should start by making the healthy choice a more affordable choice.

Call your state representative and senator and ask them to support Tennessee House Bill 2086. The Tennessee General Assembly number is 615-741-1100.