Heart Healthy Bills Highlighted At Statehouse

INDIANAPOLIS - About 50 heart advocates, nurses, doctors and lawmakers gathered at the statehouse Tuesday to support two bills. 

The American Heart Association, AHA, is pinpointing the measures as priorities for this session. Senate Bill 15 would establish a grant and loan program to fund healthy food options for low access areas. House Bill 1001 would increase the cigarette tax by $1.

Gov. Mike Pence stopped by the gathering and says he supports heart health.

"All we can do to encourage good heart health in the state of Indiana should be commended," Pence said. 

In 28 Hoosier counties about a quarter of the population has low access to fresh food. AHA Government Relations Director Danielle Patterson says the fresh food initiative would support a variety of solutions.

"We’re providing that financing option to grocery stores, food banks, farmers markets, delivery services to make sure we’re increasing access to fresh fruit and vegetables," Patterson said. 

Patterson also says the AHA believes a one dollar hike in the cigarette tax would incentivize Hoosiers to quit.

Indiana continues to have one of the highest rates of smokers… nearly 22 percent. Raising the cigarette tax failed in past sessions.

SB 15 passed the Senate and is now in the House.  HB 1001 is tied to road funding that passed the House on Tuesday.