SB 23-221 Summary

• Creates a Healthy School Meals for All Program General Fund Exempt Account to receive voter-approved tax revenue from a 2022 statewide election and dedicate it to school meal programs.

• Allows the Department of Education to spend money from the account for meal reimbursements to schools, local food purchasing grants, staff wage increases or stipends, and technical assistance grants, with up to 1.5% allowed for administrative costs.

• Permits the Department of Education to exceed its appropriations from the general fund for meal reimbursements and staff stipends if the exempt account has insufficient funds.

• Requires monthly revenue reporting from the Department of Revenue to the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, with annual reporting to the General Assembly by December 1st to inform future appropriations.

• Appropriates $115,339,107 from the exempt account to the Department of Education for the 2023-24 fiscal year, including $115,000,000 for school meal reimbursements.