Bill
HR 5867
Establish a 3-year pilot for school meals to offer 100% plant-based options, funded with $10 million, empowering SFAs to train staff, procure plant foods, and engage communities.
Note on documents provided
- The materials provided include two distinct texts associated with H.R. 5867: (A) an introduced bill text titled the “Plant‑Powered School Meals Pilot Act” (amendment to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act) introduced Oct 28, 2025; and (B) an enrolled/enacted provision designating a U.S. Postal Service facility in Casselberry, Florida, as the “Colonel Joseph William Kittinger II Post Office Building.” Both appear under the same bill number in the supplied materials. The sections below summarize each item separately.
Purpose and intent
- Establish a pilot grant program to support school food authorities (SFAs) in offering 100 percent plant‑based meal and milk options in school breakfast/lunch programs, and to build capacity (training, procurement, education) for such options.
Key provisions
- Adds a new subsection to Section 18 of the National School Lunch Act creating a pilot grant program administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.
- Grant term: up to 3 years per award.
- Authorization of appropriations: $10,000,000 for FY2026, to remain available through FY2030.
- Grant amounts: to be awarded in diverse sizes “to the extent practicable.”
- Eligible applicants: SFAs (application to include a participatory evaluation plan and a plan for culturally appropriate meals).
- Priority for awards given to SFAs that: serve high proportions of children eligible for free/reduced‑price meals; collaborate with community organizations and producers; include experiential/culturally appropriate plant‑based education; incorporate organic plant‑based options; and other Secretary‑determined criteria.
Permitted uses of funds
- Professional development and training (preparing, procuring, marketing, menu creation) via third‑party contractors.
- Compensation to employees for training and additional work related to serving plant‑based meals.
- Technical assistance, student engagement (taste tests, recipe and culinary education).
- Outreach to and procurement from agricultural producers — including underserved producers, limited‑resource farmers, certified organic farms, and local farmers.
Definitions and standards
- “100 percent plant‑based food option” is defined to include a meat alternate as described in applicable USDA regulations and to exclude all animal products and byproducts (e.g., meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, honey).
Reporting and oversight
- SFAs receiving grants must keep records of plant‑based options served and submit a report to the Secretary within 1 year of receiving a grant and annually thereafter during the grant term. Reports must include counts of options offered, schools and students served, and uses of funds.
- The Secretary must compile summaries of SFA reports and submit an annual report to Congress (within 1 year after the last day of the school year in which reports are received).
- The Secretary must provide technical assistance and share best practices.
Who is affected
- School food authorities and staff, students (especially those in high‑need districts), local and specialty agricultural producers, USDA/State agencies administering school meals, and community partners involved in school nutrition and education.
Potential impact
- Supports piloting and evaluation of fully plant‑based meal options in schools, with an emphasis on equity, culturally appropriate menus, local/organic procurement, staff training, and student education. The modest authorized funding ($10M) targets pilot projects rather than large‑scale nationwide implementation.
Purpose
- Designates the USPS facility located at 109 Live Oaks Boulevard, Casselberry, Florida, as the “Colonel Joseph William Kittinger II Post Office Building.”
Key language
- (a) Names the facility the Colonel Joseph William Kittinger II Post Office Building.
- (b) States that any reference to that facility in federal law, maps, regulations, or records shall be deemed to refer to the new name.
Procedural/timeline highlights (as reported)
- Passed House under suspension of the rules (voice vote) — reported in records dated Sept. 23, 2024.
- Passed Senate without amendment by unanimous consent (Dec. 19, 2024).
- Presented to the President (Dec. 27, 2024); signed into law (Jan. 2, 2025).
Who is affected
- Primarily a ceremonial/name change for the specified postal facility; affects official references and signage.
If you want, I can:
- Produce a one‑page fact sheet comparing the two texts and their legislative statuses, or
- Pull out the statutory language that would be added to the National School Lunch Act in the plant‑based pilot text.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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