Bill
HR 1094
Takes steps to raise awareness of Arkansas food insecurity, supports School Breakfast Month, and urges policy actions to reduce hunger without creating programs or funding.
Title: To raise awareness of the issue of food insecurity; to acknowledge School Breakfast Month in Arkansas; and to work toward a solution to the issue of food insecurity in Arkansas.
Sponsor: Representative Duffield (primary); cosponsored by multiple members. Companion bill: S 459.
Status / Key Dates
- Introduced: February 6, 2025
- Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce: February 6, 2025
- Reported Do Pass by committee: March 31, 2025
- Read and adopted in the House (final adoption): May 23, 2025 (also listed as read and adopted April 10 in the record)
- Reported enrolled: May 25, 2025
- Classification: House resolution (non‑binding)
Purpose and intent
- To increase awareness among lawmakers and the public about the prevalence and effects of food insecurity in Arkansas, to formally recognize School Breakfast Month in the state, and to commit the House to pursue legislative and programmatic steps toward reducing food insecurity.
Findings cited in the resolution
- Arkansas was ranked #1 in food insecurity in the U.S. based on 2023 survey responses (report published in 2024).
- Over 19% of Arkansas families report not having enough food for active, healthy living.
- Nearly 1 in 4 children in Arkansas experience food insecurity, with associated negative outcomes (higher absenteeism, lower test scores, increased stress).
Key provisions / actions the House resolves to take
- Raise awareness of food insecurity and its causes by partnering with hunger relief organizations, healthcare groups, businesses, school nutrition directors, and other stakeholders.
- Encourage each member of the House to: (a) visit one local food pantry in their district, and (b) visit one school in their district during School Breakfast Month.
- Work to develop and enact policies addressing food insecurity, including consideration of universal school breakfast for public school children (and additional measures beyond that).
- Monitor and evaluate data on actions taken by the General Assembly to measure progress on reducing food insecurity.
Who is affected
- Intended beneficiaries: Arkansans experiencing food insecurity, especially children and families.
- Implementing/engaged parties: state legislators, school districts and nutrition programs, community food banks/pantries, health and nonprofit partners.
- Note: As a resolution, HR 1094 does not create programs, mandate funding, or change eligibility rules; it sets legislative priorities and encouragements.
Practical effect / impact
- Symbolic and agenda‑setting: signals legislative attention to child and family food insecurity and encourages member engagement and stakeholder coordination.
- May lead to subsequent binding legislation (budget requests, program changes, or statutory mandates) if the House follows through on developing and enacting policies recommended by stakeholders and committees.
- Provides for ongoing monitoring of legislative efforts to "move the needle" but does not itself allocate resources or require implementation.
Additional notes
- The resolution acknowledges School Breakfast Month but does not specify a month in the text.
- Because it is a non‑binding House resolution, concrete programmatic change would require follow‑up bills or budgetary action.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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