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HB 25-1274

Healthy School Meals for All Program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 49 co-sponsors

Creates universal free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 students, funded by state dollars and federal reimbursements, boosting participation and reducing hunger.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · HB 25-1274

Summary — HB 25-1274: Healthy School Meals for All Program

Status: Governor Signed (June 3, 2025)
Introduced: February 19, 2025
Bill number: HB 25-1274
Primary sponsors: Dafna Michaelson Jenet; Lorena García; Katie Wallace (multiple cosponsors from both chambers)

Note: the official bill text was not provided with your request. The summary below presents the bill’s known procedural history and the stated purpose from the bill title, together with the typical components and likely impacts of a “Healthy School Meals for All” program. For exact statutory language, appropriation amounts, and implementation details, consult the enrolled bill text or the legislative website.

Purpose and intent

The bill establishes a statewide “Healthy School Meals for All” program intended to ensure that all K–12 public school students have access to nutritious breakfast and lunch at no charge. The policy goal is to reduce student food insecurity, improve child nutrition and learning outcomes, simplify meal administration, and increase school participation in meal programs.

Legislative history (key dates)

  • Introduced in House: 2025-02-19 (assigned to Education)
  • Passed House (with amendments at times) and Senate committees in April–May 2025
  • House and Senate concurred on amendments and repassed the bill in May 2025
  • Sent to Governor: 2025-05-16
  • Governor signed into law: 2025-06-03

Likely key provisions (based on the bill title and common program elements)

  • Creates a statewide universal school meals program providing free breakfasts and lunches to all students in participating public schools (no household means-testing).
  • Designates an administering state agency (typically the Department of Education or equivalent) to implement, monitor, and distribute state funds and federal reimbursements to school districts and charter schools.
  • Requires meals to meet federal nutrition standards (e.g., USDA school meal requirements) and may set additional state nutrition goals (fresh/local procurement, dietary accommodations).
  • Establishes funding mechanisms — combination of state appropriations and use/coordination of federal school meal reimbursement funds — and authorizes grants or supplemental payments to districts to cover uncompensated costs.
  • Directs reporting and data collection on participation rates, costs, and program outcomes; may include outreach requirements to families.
  • May include transition provisions (pilot phases, effective date for full implementation, technical assistance to districts).

Who is affected

  • Students and families: broader access to free, healthy school meals; reduced out‑of‑pocket meal costs.
  • School districts and charter schools: operational responsibility for providing increased numbers of free meals; potential administrative simplification (reduced paperwork for income eligibility).
  • State budget: increased ongoing expenditures for state subsidies or administrative costs; offset in part by federal reimbursements.
  • Vendors, local food producers, and meal service providers: potential increases in demand and opportunities for local procurement.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Likely to increase meal participation and reduce child hunger and stigma associated with means‑tested meals.
  • Fiscal impact depends on the state appropriation, district uptake, and federal reimbursement levels; implementation costs for kitchens/staffing may be significant in some districts.
  • Administrative simplification may reduce paperwork for families and schools, but require new state oversight and reporting systems.

For precise provisions (funding amounts, statutory changes, effective dates, enforcement language), please refer to the enrolled version of HB 25-1274 available from the Colorado General Assembly or the Office of Legislative Legal Services.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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