The proposed bill establishes a Hunger-Free Campus Initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity among students in public institutions of higher education. It introduces a hunger-free campus grant program managed by the department, which will provide grants to eligible institutions to support students in completing their career and technical education. The program will also be available to municipally administered colleges and minority-serving institutions. The department is tasked with developing guidelines for the grant-making process, which will include criteria such as the existence of campus hunger awareness programs and the establishment of on-campus meal vendors that accept federal and state nutrition benefits. Additionally, the department will provide technical assistance to help institutions meet the program's goals.

Furthermore, the bill establishes the Hunger-Free Campus Trust Fund, which will be administered by the commissioner of higher education. This fund will be credited with appropriations, interest earned, and funds from public and private sources, and it will be used to finance the grants and cover administrative costs of the program. The commissioner is required to report annually on the fund's activities, detailing the sources and amounts of funds received, expenditures, and grants provided to institutions. This initiative aims to enhance student support and ultimately strengthen the workforce in the commonwealth.