Summary of HB 7 (Session 114) – Tennessee
Title: Education, Higher - Hunger-free campus grant program
Purpose
- Establishes a Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program to provide grants to eligible higher education institutions in order to address student hunger on campuses.
- Administered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC).
- Creates a dedicated Hunger-Free Campus Grant Fund from appropriations, gifts, grants, and other donations.
- Sets eligibility criteria, authorized uses of grant funds, reporting requirements, and a note that no funds are automatically appropriated in certain fiscal years unless specifically appropriated.
Key Provisions
1) Definitions and Scope
- Defines “higher education institution” to include:
- Public institutions operated by UT Board of Trustees, Board of Regents (State University and Community College System), or local governing boards of state universities; and
- Private postsecondary institutions accredited by a regional accrediting association with its primary campus in Tennessee.
2) Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program
- Creates a separate Hunger-Free Campus Grant Fund within the general fund.
- The Fund consists of:
- Funds specifically appropriated by the General Assembly for the grant program.
- Gifts, grants, and other donations.
3) Administration and Process
- THEC administers the hunger-free campus grant program.
- The program requires an application process for institutions, with a deadline and formal procedures established by THEC.
- Institutions must:
- Either establish a physical student food pantry or partner with a student-accessible food pantry in counties where they have campuses with students residing or attending in-person.
- Establish a hunger task force including at least two student body members to assess needs and best practices.
4) Grant Uses and Requirements
- Eligible uses of grant proceeds include:
- Developing a student meal credit donation program.
- Allocating funds for a meal voucher program for students.
- Providing financial assistance to a student-accessible food pantry.
- Raising awareness about community and campus resources addressing food insecurity.
5) Reporting and Accountability
- Institutions receiving a grant must study and report annually to:
- The Senate Education Committee
- The House Education Administration Committee
- Include information on progress addressing food insecurity, demographics of food-insecure students, best practices, and related data.
6) Funding and Fiscal Notes
- The act does not itself appropriate funds; funding must be provided through the General Appropriations Act.
- Fiscal notes indicate:
- Initial no-fund appropriation for FY 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 (and 2027-2028 in later amendments), with the potential for grants and administrative costs to be funded in future years.
- Estimated grant amounts per institution may range from $10,000 to $40,000, depending on institution type and student body size.
- Estimated total potential annual impact when funded could include amounts allocated to various sectors (TBR institutions, UT system, LGIs, private institutions), with example aggregates around $75,000–$301,000 in early years depending on the number of qualifying institutions and grant sizes.
- Projected per-campus pantry support costs vary widely (roughly $12,500 to $67,000 annually) based on size and population.
- Administrative costs for THEC are expected to be not significant.
7) Effect and Timing
- The act does not mandate participation; it creates an eligibility framework and funding mechanism for grants.
- Takes effect upon becoming law.
- Funds are not obligated or expended unless specifically appropriated by the General Assembly.
Background and Legislative Context
- The bill has been amended in fiscal analyses to reflect an intent to avoid permanent General Fund appropriation in early fiscal years, with potential future funding contingent on the General Appropriations Act.
- Supporting analyses describe projected grant sizes, potential recipients (public and private higher education institutions in Tennessee), and expected fiscal implications.
Potential Impact
- Students: Could benefit from expanded on-campus food resources, meal assistance programs, and increased awareness of food-insecurity resources.
- Institutions: May establish or expand food pantries, meal voucher/donation programs, and student hunger task forces; must implement reporting requirements.
- State Government: Administrative costs for THEC anticipated to be modest; overall funding contingent on future appropriations and donor gifts.
Notes for Readers
- No automatic funding is included in the bill; effective only if the General Assembly appropriates funds in future appropriation acts.
- The bill applies to both public and private higher education institutions domiciled in Tennessee.
