IL HB4813

Adds school food service contracts as exempt from competitive bidding requirements, allowing districts to award contracts without lowest-bid selection if good faith effort is made to prefer certain suppliers.

School districts must give preference to contracts that procure health-promoting foods compliant with USDA nutrition standards and promote scratch-made, minimally processed foods.

Districts should prefer suppliers sourcing local/regional food products, utilizing hormone and pest management practices recommended by USDA, and valuing animal welfare.

Contracts should increase opportunities for businesses owned and operated by minorities, women, or persons with disabilities; bidders must submit supplier data at bid time and update annually.

Prohibits food purchase contracts with bidders whose terms prevent schools from donating excess food to food banks, homeless shelters, food pantries, and soup kitchens.