Higher Education - Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program - Alterations

SB 789 modifies Maryland's Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program by requiring the Higher Education Commission to designate certain private colleges as "hunger-free campuses" while explicitly prohibiting those same private institutions from receiving grant funding. The bill adds specific requirements for designation, including establishing a hunger task force, designating staff to assist students with SNAP enrollment, providing campus food pantries, and conducting annual hunger surveys. It also adjusts funding levels, mandating $150,000 annually for fiscal years 2023-2026 and $250,000 for fiscal years 2027 onward in the state budget. This bill directly affects private higher education institutions by creating eligibility for designation but blocking their access to program grants.