Colorado bill would provide universal free meals and encourage local procurement in schools

A bill has been introduced in Colorado that would provide universal free meals to students in the state and set up a grant program to encourage schools to purchase local products.

Under SB22-087, the Colorado Department of Education would be instructed to create a program to reimburse schools for meals served to students who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals. In addition, schools would be required to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision if eligible.  

The bill would also create a local food purchasing grant to provide funding for schools to purchase Colorado grown, raised or processed products for school meals. Schools would need to create a parent and student advisory food purchasing committee to be considered eligible for the grant.