Bill > HB0007

This bill establishes a hunger-free campus grant program to help address food insecurity among college students in Tennessee. The program will be administered by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and will provide grants to both public and private higher education institutions to combat student hunger. To be eligible for a grant, institutions must either have or partner with a food pantry and create a hunger task force that includes student members. Grant recipients must use the funds to develop initiatives such as meal credit donation programs, meal voucher programs, or financial assistance for food pantries, and must also raise awareness about food insecurity resources. Each institution that receives a grant will be required to submit an annual report to state legislative committees detailing their efforts to address campus hunger, including information about food-insecure student demographics and best practices. The bill specifies that while the grant program is created, actual funding will depend on specific appropriations by the state's general assembly, meaning no funds are automatically allocated. The program applies to institutions operated by the University of Tennessee system, the state university and community college system, local governing boards of state universities, and private postsecondary institutions accredited by a regional association and primarily located in Tennessee.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0007&ga=114