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HB 907

Enact the Food Literacy and Nutrition Education Act

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dontavius Jarrells and 5 co-sponsors

Ohio must adopt K-12 food literacy standards by 12/31/2026, with public input, parental opt-out, and wide dissemination to districts and schools.

Referred to committee
#education #primaryandsecondaryeducation
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Bill Summary · HB 907

Summary of HB 907 (Ohio, 136th General Assembly)

Purpose and intent

  • Enacts the Food Literacy and Nutrition Education Act, establishing a formal framework for food literacy education in Ohio.
  • Repeals existing language in section 3301.0718 and creates new standards and requirements for food literacy standards to be adopted by the Department of Education and Workforce (ODE).

Key provisions and changes

  • Adoption of health standards oversight (new structure):

    • ODE may not adopt or revise health standards, curriculum, or revisions without concurrent approval by both houses of the General Assembly.
    • Before either the House or Senate votes on a concurrent resolution approving health standards, the relevant education committee must hold at least one public hearing on the proposed standards, curriculum, or revisions.

  • Food literacy standards (new requirements):

    • By December 31, 2026, ODE must adopt standards for food literacy education for grades K-12.
    • Standards must be based on a review of relevant current national and state standards.
    • Content should provide students with concrete guidance on:
    • making informed healthy food choices
    • meal preparation
    • understanding how food is grown
    • ODE may revise these standards over time consistent with the act.

  • Post-adoption dissemination and access:

    • After adoption, the standards (and any revisions) must be posted on ODE’s publicly accessible website.
    • The standards must be provided to:
    • all school districts
    • community schools (Chapter 3314)
    • STEM schools (Chapter 3326)
    • college-preparatory boarding schools (Chapter 3328)
    • Each district and school must also post the standards on its own publicly accessible website.
    • Districts/schools may use the standards in their curricula; if a district or school does not implement the standards, they must still provide students with access to the standards (copy or equivalent).

  • Parental opt-out from instruction:

    • Upon written request, a parent or guardian may excuse a student from any food literacy instruction aligned with the adopted standards.
    • This opt-out does not exempt the student from health education requirements or other graduation requirements under Ohio law (Section 3313.603).

  • Scope and coordination:

    • The act is designed to align food literacy with broader health education, without altering graduation requirements beyond ensuring nutrition education is addressed separately from general health requirements.

Who/what is affected

  • State level: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODE) is responsible for adopting and revising food literacy standards under this act.
  • Educational entities:
    • All school districts
    • Community schools (charter schools)
    • STEM schools
    • College-preparatory boarding schools
  • Students and parents/guardians:
    • Students will receive food literacy instruction where implemented; parents may opt their child out of this instruction in writing.
  • Public engagement: At least one public hearing per concurrent resolution process, ensuring stakeholder input before adoption.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Public hearings requirement: Any concurrent resolution proposed to approve health standards must be preceded by at least one public hearing conducted by the education committee.
  • Implementation deadline: Food literacy standards must be adopted no later than December 31, 2026.
  • Post-adoption process: Standards and revisions must be posted on ODE’s website and distributed to applicable schools; districts must post the standards on their own websites.

Additional notes

  • The bill explicitly repeals the current section 3301.0718 and replaces it with the new framework and the Food Literacy and Nutrition Education Act (Section 1 and related sections).
  • The act emphasizes accessibility of information and parental involvement, while integrating nutrition education with, but distinct from, other health education requirements.

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

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