Bill > HB1154

This bill establishes a hunger-free campus grant program designed to address food insecurity among college students in Indiana. The program will provide competitive grants to state educational institutions that meet specific criteria for supporting students' basic nutritional needs. To be designated as a "hunger-free campus," an institution must establish a hunger task force, designate a staff member to help students enroll in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), allow SNAP benefits at campus stores or provide information about nearby SNAP-accepting locations, hold a hunger awareness event, provide a food pantry or stigma-free food access, develop a meal credit donation program or provide free food vouchers, and conduct biannual student hunger surveys. The Commission for Higher Education will administer the grant program, with a dedicated grant fund that can receive state appropriations, transfers, and donations. The commission will prioritize grants for institutions with a higher proportion of Pell grant recipients and must submit a comprehensive report by July 1, 2029, detailing the program's impact and potential future funding. The bill initially appropriates $250,000 for the first year of the program, with additional transfers of $100,000 and $150,000 in subsequent fiscal years to support the grant fund.

Education

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1154/details