Budget Amendment ID: FY2026-S3-624

EDU 624

Implementing school meals recommendations

Mr. Lewis moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following sections:-

"SECTION X.  Chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following section:-

Section 38.  (a) The office for food and nutrition programs, shall annually provide school food authorities with nutrition goals and guidelines which shall be commensurate with the recommendations of the school meal nutrition standards commission established in section 77 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023. The goals shall include, but not be limited to:-

(1) Reducing sugar content of offerings without adding in nonnutritive sweeteners;

(2) Increasing the dietary fiber content of meals offered;

(3) Offering beans, peas, and lentils more than once a week with the goal of three or more times per week;

(4) Limiting the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in school meals;

(5) Limiting products that are ultra-processed;

(6) Providing vegetarian and vegan options daily, or as often as feasible;

(7) Providing meal accommodations for religious, cultural, medical and non-medical dietary restrictions, including, but not limited to, food allergies and lactose intolerance as often as feasible; and

8) Allotting 30 minutes for lunchtime with a minimum of 20 minutes seat time and scheduling a recess before a designated lunch period, when feasible.

SECTION XX. Line item 1596-2422 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking the words, “and (iii) options to reform, modify or extend the program in a manner that promotes equity, maximizes federal funds and improves predictability and sustainability of funding” and inserting in place thereof the words:- (iii) goals and guidelines made to each school district pursuant to section 38 of chapter 69 general laws, as inserted by Section X of this act; and (iv) options to reform, modify or extend the program in a manner that promotes equity, maximizes federal funds and improves predictability and sustainability of funding.”