OLYMPIA – When the only grocery store or pharmacy in a neighborhood closes, families shouldn’t be left with empty shelves and no options.
Today, the Senate passed HB 2294, sponsored by Rep. Darya Farivar (D-North Seattle), which protects access to food and medicine by prohibiting restrictive covenants that block new grocery stores or pharmacies from opening. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.
HB 2294 includes practical exceptions for stores relocating nearby or within a retail center and gives local governments flexibility to address unique circumstances. By removing barriers that limit competition and consumer access, HB 2294 supports independent grocers, strengthens local economies, and helps ensure no community is cut off from the essentials families rely on every day.
“Access to food and medicine is not a luxury, it’s a basic necessity,” said Rep. Farivar. “Our neighborhoods deserve opportunity, competition, and the dignity of nearby access to essentials.”