Substitute House Bill No. 7013 seeks to enhance the Local Food for Schools Incentive Program (LFSIP) by broadening eligibility criteria and updating definitions related to food sourcing. The bill replaces the term "Eligible board of education" with "Eligible entity," which now includes local or regional boards of education and licensed child care providers that offer meal programs. It introduces definitions for "locally sourced food" and "regionally sourced food," specifying their geographic origins. Additionally, the bill mandates reimbursement payments for purchasing these foods, with rates set at one-half for locally sourced and one-third for regionally sourced foods. The administration of the program is transferred from the Department of Agriculture to the State Department of Education, which will hire a full-time employee to manage operations starting in fiscal year 2026.

Moreover, the bill requires that at least 20% of the program's annual appropriation be allocated for engaging external partners to provide supplemental services related to farm-to-school programs. It modifies the preference criteria for farmers from "socially disadvantaged farmers" to "historically underserved farmers" and eliminates a provision that allowed schools to receive supplemental grants for similar services, streamlining the funding process. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and aim to improve access to nutritious meals for children while promoting local food sourcing in schools.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-215m
ED Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference: 10-215m
APP Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-215m
File No. 834: 10-215m