Kids and parents who benefited from the Healthy School Meals for All program, a Colorado Department of Education program that provided free meals to all students during the 2023/2024 school year, testified in support of HB 25-1274 yesterday at a House Education Committee hearing at the State Capitol. The bill would fully fund and implement the Healthy School Meals for All program. The bill passed its first committee hearing on a 7-5 party-line vote, with Democrats in favor.
Health professionals, teachers, nutrition professionals, local farmers, and advocates also testified, including Policy Director Anya Rose of Hunger Free Colorado, Executive Director Alisha Wenger of the Community Food Bank of Grand Junction, Colorado State Manager Ana Bustamante of Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), Dr. Sandra Stenmark of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and more.
Colorado's Healthy School Meals for All program was approved by Colorado voters in 2022 Colorado as part of Proposition FF. The program provides more than 600,000 free meals to students each day, which “reduces stigma, ensures students’ nutritional needs are met, and eases the financial burden on families and school budgets.” The program allegedly saves families up to $1,300 per child per year.
According to the Colorado Healthy School Meals for All Coalition, the bill refers to a ballot measure for voters to “agree to keep all the funds raised by Proposition FF to continue feeding kids, rather than returning a portion of the money to wealthy Coloradans.” It would also “create a reserve and process for phasing in investment in wages, local purchasing and support for preparing tasty meals using local foods while ensuring the financial health and sustainability of the program.” The bill also refers to a measure to “ask voters to approve further lowering tax deductions for people making $300,000 or more to provide additional funds.”
The bill is sponsored by Representative Lorena García and Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet. The bill will now go to the House Finance Committee.
