Bill > SF525

Introduced Session

This bill relates to student nutrition, including by modifying the curricula provided to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 to include instruction related to nutrition, modifying provisions related to the agriculture, food, and natural resources component of the career and technical education instruction provided to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12, and modifying provisions related to school meal programs. The bill requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to provide instruction related to nutrition to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12. The bill also requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to provide instruction related to food production and the benefits of local sourcing as part of the agriculture, food, and natural resources component of the career and technical education curriculum in grades 9 through 12. The bill creates new Code section 283A.14, which requires the department of education (DE) to, within 90 days after the effective date of the bill, apply for a waiver under federal law to request an exemption from certain limits and requirements related to school breakfast and lunch programs and to request permission to substitute or modify federal requirements with state-specific nutritional guidelines that align with Iowa’s dietary recommendations or cultural food practices. The bill provides that if the waiver is granted, DE is required to adopt updated guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal for purposes of Iowa’s school meal programs. The bill establishes requirements related to these guidelines and persons with whom DE is required to consult during the process of updating the guidelines. Also, if the waiver is granted, the bill requires DE and the department of agriculture and land stewardship to establish a joint committee related to the guidelines and establishes the joint committee’s duties. New Code section 283A.14 requires DE to submit an annual report to the general assembly that describes the impact of the guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal, including information related to school breakfast and lunch program participation, student health outcomes, feedback from school districts, progress in implementing the guidelines, challenges associated with implementing the guidelines, and recommendations for further enhancement of the guidelines, if the waiver is granted. New Code section 283A.14 also requires DE to conduct an evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal compared to the comparable federal standards within five years after the effective date of the waiver, if the waiver is granted. New Code section 283A.14 takes effect upon enactment.

No sponsors listed

Other Sponsors (1)

Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 689. (on 04/03/2025)

Official Document