HB24-1301 Summary

• Creates a time-to-eat task force in the Department of Education to evaluate Colorado school districts' lunch time policies and other states' practices, with the task force repealing effective January 1, 2025.

• Task force must consider school districts that have increased seated lunch time, scheduled recess before lunch, maintained current policies, and utilized various food service models, evaluating outcomes including food waste, academic performance, meal quality, and implementation barriers.

• Task force consists of 28 members appointed by various authorities including the Commissioner of Education, Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House, representing food service professionals, school staff, parents, students, and community organizations.

• Task force shall submit a report by December 1, 2024 to the State Board of Education and legislative education committees with findings and recommendations for implementing time-to-eat policies that ensure increased positive outcomes while complying with federal instruction time requirements.

• Creates a Safe and Healthy Play Grant Program providing up to $20,000 per school to under-resourced school districts and schools with 50% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch to implement social and emotional learning through play programming.