SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2692

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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SENATE, November 17, 2025.

The committee on Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 401) of Jason M. Lewis for legislation relative to healthy school lunches, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2692).

For the committee,

Jason M. Lewis

        FILED ON: 10/30/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2692

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to healthy school lunches.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1: The board of elementary and secondary education shall establish a school meal nutrition standards advisory council to advise the commissioner of elementary and secondary education on implementation of the recommendations of the school meal nutrition standards commission established in section 77 of chapter 28 of the acts of 2023. The council shall 1) provide ongoing guidance in the development of comprehensive strengthened nutrition standards aligned with the most current public health guidance and evidence-based nutrition standards, 2) provide ongoing feasibility assessments, 3) work with school food authorities and stakeholders to reduce barriers to feasibility of implementation on issues including but not limited to procurement, facilities and workforce training. The members of the council shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed, subject to appropriation, for expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred in the performance of the member’s responsibilities. The council shall consist of 11 members including 6 members to be appointed by the governor, who shall be school nutrition operators or registered dieticians representing geographically, racially and socio-economically diverse school districts across the commonwealth; a representative from Project Bread – The Walk for Hunger, Inc.; a representative from the School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Healthy School Lunch Coalition; a representative from Massachusetts Farm to School; and a representative from the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative. Members shall   for a term of 3 years. Members serving on the council shall represent a reasonable statewide geographic balance. The council shall meet not less than four times each year. The council shall elect a chair to serve for a term of three years who may appoint other officers as necessary.