Bills
HB 2021: Providing free or reduced-price school meals applications at back-to-school night events (Del. Roem)
Our Position: Support
Status: Passed and signed into law by the governor (effective 7/1/23).
Summary: Requires schools to provide information about free or reduced meals to parents during back-to-school nights and a fillable free or reduced-price meals application that may be completed and submitted on site.
HB 2025: Providing SNAP benefit information and free or reduced-price school meals application (Del. Roem)
Our Position: Support
Status: Passed and signed into law by the governor (effective 7/1/23).
Summary: Requires the Department of Social Services to develop an information sheet on SNAP benefits and provide that to school boards. Each school board must ensure that the information sheet and a free/reduced-price school meals application are sent home with each student after the start of the school year.
HB 2380: Dept. of Social Services to support food banks in providing SNAP applications and information (Del. Roem)
Our Position: Support
Status: Passed and signed into law by the governor (effective 7/1/23).
Summary: Requires the Department of Social Services to provide information, resources, and education to food banks regarding outreach opportunities to assist individuals in completing a SNAP benefits application.
HB 1874: Application and renewal processes for SNAP and WIC (Del. Helmer)
Our Position: Support
Status: Failed in the House.
Summary: Prohibits the Board of Social Services from requiring individuals applying or completing a renewal for SNAP benefits to appear in person. The bill also codifies the Department of Health’s authority to implement a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC program), which is currently authorized by regulation, and prohibits the Department of Health from requiring individuals applying or completing a renewal for the WIC program to appear in person.
HB 2031: Department of Education to establish a farm to school program task force (Del. Roem)
Our Position: Support
Status: Failed in the House.
Summary: Requires the Department of Education to establish and appoint members to the Farm to School Program Task Force for the purpose of increasing student access to high-quality farm to school programs across Virginia.
HB 1967: Universal School Meal Access (Del. Mullin)
Our Position: Support
Status: Failed in the House.
Summary: Requires that each school board require schools in the local school division to participate in the federal National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program or in the Community Eligibility Provision, and to make lunch and breakfast available to any student who requests a meal at no cost to the student.
HB 2430: Produce Rx Program (Del. McQuinn)
Our Position: Support
Status: Failed in the House.
Summary: Directs the Department of Social Services to establish a Produce Rx Program as a three-year pilot program and to report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1 of each year on the operation of the Program.