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March 09, 2026 Clouds | 53°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bill S.939 194th (Current)

An Act establishing the hunger-free campus initiative

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 939) of Joan B. Lovely, Joanne M. Comerford, Michael D. Brady, James B. Eldridge and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish the hunger-free campus initiative that would provide grants to institutions of public higher education to address student food insecurity and hunger. Higher Education.

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Bill Information

Presenter:
Joan B. Lovely
Special Attachments:
Committee - Senate member votes
Creates a hunger-free campus grant program subject to appropriation to provide grants to institutions of public higher education to address food insecurity and hunger to help students complete their education. · Grant program will also be available to municipally administered colleges and minority-serving schools. · Program shall be funded but not be limited to appropriations from the Education and Transportation fund. · The department will hire a director to develop guidelines and procedures for the grant making process and would conduct additional surveys in addressing student food insecurity and hunger eligible higher education campuses in Massachusetts. · The guidelines and procedures will determine the eligibility of higher education institutions using six guidelines: o If the institution has the campus staff to communicate with the department; o The existence of any hunger awareness programs; o If the institution has meal venders to accept federal and state nutrition benefits; o If the institution has a student meal credit-sharing program; o Income-based standards to determine grant levels determined by student; population; o Any other important criteria determined by the department. · Every year by July 1st the Department shall submit a report on the Hunger Free Campus grant program for the previous fiscal year to the Governor, Senate, House, and the Joint Committee on Higher Education. o Report shall include the number and amounts of grants to eligible institutions and an assessment of the program for the year. · A separate fund will be established called the Hunger-Free Campus Trust Fund
* The bill summary was created by the Primary Sponsor of the bill; no committee of the General Court certifies the accuracy of its contents.

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