SB 25-214 CO

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Became Law

The healthy school meals for all program (program) reimburses participating school food authorities for meals that those authorities provide to students without charge. Section 2 of the act allows the amount of these reimbursements to be modified in 2 different scenarios. First, if a referred measure that would, in combination with the income tax deduction modification that was approved by the voters in connection with the program, result in the collection of at least $150 million for the income tax year commencing on January 1, 2026, is not approved by the voters voting on the referred measure at the 2025 statewide election, the department of education (department) is required to only provide reimbursements to participating school food authorities for meals served at eligible sites. Eligible sites are those that either: Qualify for the community eligibility provision program, as that program exists on November 15, 2025; or Are identified as eligible sites by the department based on the amount that the general assembly appropriates for the purpose of providing reimbursements to a participating school food authority for offering eligible meals without charge and the percentage of a site's student enrollment who are certified as eligible for free meals based on documentation of benefit receipt or categorical eligibility as described in federal rule, or any successor regulations. Second, if the department, in consultation with the office of state planning and budgeting, determines that the amount that the general assembly appropriated for the purpose of providing reimbursements to a participating school food authority is less than the costs of the department providing those reimbursements, the department may determine a prorated reimbursement amount for the reimbursements that the department provides through the program to each participating school food authority for the remainder of that budget year. Sections 4 and 6 limit the existing authority of the department, if the department determines that there is an insufficient amount of money in the healthy school meals for all program cash fund (fund) for the department to provide reimbursements to a participating school food authority for offering eligible meals without charge, to make an expenditure from the general fund to provide those reimbursements to state fiscal years commencing on or before July 1, 2024. Section 3 allows the general assembly to appropriate money from the state education fund to cover program costs for which there is not sufficient money in the fund, as it was required to do for state fiscal years 2024-25, for state fiscal year 2025-26. Section 4 requires the department, on January 15, 2027, in consultation with the office of state planning and budgeting, to report to the joint budget committee on whether there is a sufficient balance in the fund for: The state treasurer to transfer an amount from the fund to the state education fund equal to the total amount of expenditures from the state education fund for the program for state fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 minus the amount of additional tax revenue deposited in the state education fund as a result of the increase in state income tax generated in connection with voter approval of the program for those same fiscal years; and The department to provide reimbursements to a participating school food authority for offering eligible meals without charge. Section 8 extends the local school food purchasing program indefinitely, so that the program extends beyond the 2024-25 school year. Section 9 similarly extends the required reporting on the local school food purchasing program. Section 11 decreases the appropriation for school meal reimbursements provided through the program from the general fund by $42,240,242 and increases the appropriation from the state education fund by $8,119,271 for the same purpose. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

• Jeff Bridges Democratic · primary
• Judy Amabile Democratic · primary
• Emily Sirota Democratic · primary
• Rick Taggart Republican · primary

1. Jun 3, 2025 Governor Signed · executive
2. May 14, 2025 Sent to the Governor · executive
3. May 14, 2025 Signed by the Speaker of the House · lower
4. May 14, 2025 Signed by the President of the Senate · upper
5. Apr 23, 2025 Senate Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass · upper
6. Apr 23, 2025 House Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Adopt Committee Report - Repass · lower
7. Apr 11, 2025 Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Not Concur - Request Conference Committee · upper
8. Apr 10, 2025 House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · lower
9. Apr 9, 2025 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee · lower
10. Apr 8, 2025 House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole · lower
11. Apr 3, 2025 Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations · lower
12. Apr 3, 2025 Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · upper
13. Apr 2, 2025 Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor · upper
14. Apr 1, 2025 Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole · upper
15. Mar 31, 2025 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations · upper