Bill > S0534

This bill establishes a one-year Hunger-Free Campus Pilot Program within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to address food insecurity among college students. The program will select three state universities or Florida College System institutions with the highest percentage of Pell Grant-eligible students (low-income students) to participate. Participating institutions must create a hunger task force, designate a staff member to help students enroll in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provide SNAP benefit options or information, host awareness events, establish a food pantry or free food distribution method, develop a meal credit donation program, and conduct a student hunger survey. Each participating institution must submit a report on their program implementation, and the Commissioner of Agriculture must provide a comprehensive report to state leadership by January 2028 detailing the program's impact on reducing student food insecurity and recommending future funding. Additionally, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) is required to conduct a separate study on food insecurity in higher education, consulting with relevant educational boards and stakeholders, and submit a report to legislative leadership by December 2026. The pilot program is set to begin on July 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/534