HB 100: Food Security Amendments - Utah

Amended 2/24/2025 17:02:356 → Substitute #1 · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was reformatted from a standard legislative document to a substitute version with updated page headers and timestamps, while retaining the same core provisions for free school meals and Summer EBT participation. No substantive policy changes were made to eligibility criteria, funding mechanisms, or program requirements.

TECHNICAL

Document formatting changed from standard legislative markup to substitute bill format with updated page headers and timestamps (02-12 14:31 vs 2-24-25 5:31 PM)

Amended 2/18/2025 14:02:548 → Amended 2/24/2025 17:02:356 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove the requirement for the Department of Work Force Services to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program, delete the new Section 53F-2-422 entirely, and make minor formatting adjustments to the remaining text. This significantly reduces the bill's scope by eliminating provisions for free school meals and the summer benefits program.

Scope change

The bill's scope was substantially reduced by removing the entire new Section 53F-2-422 that established free breakfast and lunch programs for eligible students and the requirement for the Department of Work Force Services to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program.

SCOPE

Deleted the requirement for the Department of Work Force Services to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program.

Removed the entire new Section 53F-2-422 that would have established free school meals for eligible students.

ELIGIBILITY

Eliminated the definition of 'eligible student' and the provision requiring free breakfast and lunch for kindergarten through grade 6 students.

FISCAL

Deleted the state board reimbursement requirements for local education agencies providing free meals.

TECHNICAL

Made minor formatting changes to the remaining text of Section 35A-3-103, including removing bracketed text and adjusting punctuation.

Amended Excerpts 2/24/2025 17:02:356 → Amended 2/18/2025 14:02:548 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify and expand provisions for free school meals, adding requirements for the Department of Work Force Services to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program, establishing reimbursement mechanisms for local education agencies, and prohibiting practices that stigmatize students unable to afford meals. The changes also add specific definitions for food waste reduction and meal debt communication protocols.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly requires the Department of Work Force Services to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program beginning summer 2027, and adds new provisions for state board reimbursement of reduced-price meal charges.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for Department of Work Force Services to participate in Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program

Added requirements for LEAs to consider food waste reduction strategies including share table programs

FISCAL

Added state board obligation to reimburse local education agencies for the difference between federal reimbursement rates for full and reduced-price meals

ENFORCEMENT

Added prohibition on LEAs publicly identifying or stigmatizing students unable to pay for meals

DEFINITION

Added definitions for 'share table program' and expanded meal debt communication requirements to direct communications only to parents

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified eligible student definition to include students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 6 who qualify for reduced-price meals based on household size and income

Amended Excerpts 2/18/2025 14:02:548 → Amended Excerpts 2/24/2025 17:02:356 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope from just a Benefits Transfer for Children Program to a broader program providing free breakfast and lunch to eligible students. The amendments also add requirements for the Department of Work Force Services to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program starting in summer 2027, subject to federal funding and legislative appropriations. Several technical formatting changes were made to the document structure and line numbering.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a specific Benefits Transfer for Children Program to a broader program providing free breakfast and lunch to eligible students, with new requirements for participation in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program.

SCOPE

Added a general description establishing a program to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to eligible students

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for Department of Work Force Services to participate in Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program beginning summer 2027

DEFINITION

Modified eligibility criteria language from 'reduced-price eligible students' to broader 'eligible students' for free meals

FISCAL

Added conditions that program participation is subject to available federal funds and legislative appropriations

TECHNICAL

Various formatting changes including line number adjustments and structural reorganization of bill excerpts

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/18/2025 14:02:548 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to narrow the scope of free lunch eligibility from all K-12 students to only kindergarten through grade 6 students, and to clarify that the program provides access to reduced-price meals at no charge rather than all meals. The amendment also adjusts the language around how benefits are transferred and who qualifies for the program.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from applying to all students in kindergarten through grade 12 to only kindergarten through grade 6 students.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed eligible student definition from kindergarten through grade 12 to kindergarten through grade 6

Clarified that the program provides reduced-price eligible students access to school meals at no charge

DEFINITION

Adjusted language regarding benefits transfer for children program to specify certain reduced-price eligible students

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten to expand free lunch access to eligible students, establish a state reimbursement system for schools, and add protections against meal debt stigma. The original version focused mainly on preventing stigma and reducing food waste, while the new version creates a more comprehensive free lunch program with specific funding mechanisms and additional student protections.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily preventing meal stigmatization to establishing an active free lunch program for eligible students with state reimbursement provisions.

ELIGIBILITY

Added definition of 'eligible student' as those qualifying for reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program based on household size and income.

FISCAL

Added requirement for state board to reimburse local education agencies for free lunches, including a monthly reimbursement system and ability to accept private donations and grants.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that LEAs provide lunch at no charge to eligible students on school days.

Added prohibition on requiring students to perform chores to pay for meals unless the requirement applies equally to all students.

Added provision for pro rata distribution of insufficient state funds and allowance for parents to cover remaining costs if appropriations are insufficient.

Expanded food waste reduction requirements from optional consideration to mandatory consideration for participating LEAs.

DEFINITION

Changed section title from 'School meals' to 'School Meal Program' and added three new definitions including 'Eligible student' and 'National School Lunch Program'.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was simplified from a comprehensive food security program into a narrower focus on preventing student meal stigmatization and reducing food waste. The original version included federal program participation requirements, meal funding mechanisms, and broad department responsibilities, while the new version removes these elements entirely. The bill now only addresses how schools should handle meal debt communications and food waste reduction strategies.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly narrowed from establishing a full school meal program with federal participation to focusing only on anti-stigmatization measures and food waste prevention.

FISCAL

Removed all provisions requiring the Department of Work Force Services to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program and related funding mechanisms.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that eligible students receive free breakfast and lunch, replacing it with no direct provision for meal distribution.

Changed the reimbursement system from mandatory state funding for reduced-price meals to optional guidance and support for food waste prevention.

Simplified the anti-stigmatization provisions by removing the prohibition on requiring chores to pay for meals.

Condensed the food waste reduction requirements from a comprehensive policy framework to two specific actions: following nutrition policy and establishing share table programs.

DEFINITION

Removed detailed definitions for eligible students, National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and other program-specific terminology.

Introduced → Enrolled · 8 edits · Mar 25, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was significantly revised to narrow its scope from providing both breakfast and lunch to only lunch, reduce stigma protections, and add new provisions about food waste reduction and partial cost-sharing. The effective date was also changed from May 7 to July 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from providing free breakfast and lunch to only providing free lunch to eligible students.

SCOPE

Removed requirement for free breakfast; now only requires free lunch for eligible students.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed eligibility definition to only include students qualifying for reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program, removing explicit reference to the School Breakfast Program.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for LEAs to consider reducing food waste through meal scheduling, adequate eating time, and share table programs.

FISCAL

Added provision allowing LEAs to ask parents to cover remaining costs if state appropriations are insufficient to fully reimburse lunch costs.

Added requirement for state board to establish monthly reimbursement system and accept private donations and grants for the meal program.

Added provision for pro rata distribution of available funds if appropriations are insufficient to fully reimburse all LEAs.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed stigmatization language from prohibiting public identification to prohibiting public identification or stigmatization of students unable to pay.

TIMELINE

Changed effective date from May 7, 2025 to July 1, 2025.

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