The bill outlines the implementation of the Hunger Free Campus Pilot Program, as mandated by line item 7100-4003 of Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024. This program aims to address food insecurity among underrepresented student populations at state universities, community colleges, University of Massachusetts undergraduate campuses, and independent minority-serving institutions. The Department of Higher Education (DHE) is tasked with distributing funds to enhance student access to federal nutrition benefit programs, on-campus grocery options, meal cards, and food pantries, while also supporting projects designed by students with lived experiences of food insecurity.

The DHE has initiated a request for proposals (RFP) process to allocate funds based on the number of Pell-eligible students at each institution, ensuring that those with a higher percentage of such students receive a larger share of the funding. The anticipated awards will be distributed across various institutions, including community colleges, state universities, minority-serving institutions, and University of Massachusetts campuses, with specific funding amounts detailed for each institution. The program is expected to promote student retention and completion, particularly for students of color, low-income households, and first-generation students.