State legislative session update
April 2, 2024
During the 2024 session, state legislators have introduced more bills recently. The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger's State Policy Committee is actively involved in and tracking several of them. This includes the following:
House Bill 2024-1416: Create the Healthy Food Incentives Program
This bill, led by Nourish Colorado, makes a technical change to the state budget under the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment in order to codify and fund this crucial program. The Healthy Food Incentive Fund grants support improved access to fresh, Colorado-grown fruits and vegetables.
Contact Becca Gredone with Nourish Colorado with any questions about HB24-1416.
House Bill 2024-1407: Community Food Assistance Provider Grant Program
This bill, led by Feeding Colorado and Hunger Free Colorado, creates the Community Food Assistance Provider Grant Program within the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) by combining the Food Pantry Assistance Grant and Food Bank Assistance Grant programs. This program will receive $3 million each year (subject to available funding) for the next five years. CDHS may contract with a third-party vendor to solicit, evaluate, award, and monitor grants.
Contact Mandy Nuku with Feeding Colorado or Anya Rose with Hunger Free Colorado with any questions about HB24-1407.
House Bill 2024-1390: School Food Programs
To address the funding shortfall for Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program, the Joint Budget Committee is running legislation that aims to:
Shift funding from the State Education Fund to cover the cost of meals not met by the current Proposition FF revenue for the 2023 - 2024 and 2024 - 2025 school years;
Mandate that the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) must identify ways to maximize federal funding for the National School Lunch Program and establish options for school districts to maximize that funding;
Postpone implementation of wage increases for school food service staff, local food purchasing, and technical assistance grants under Healthy School Meals for All; and
Extend an existing local food grant program for one year (of approximately $675,000) using the State Education Fund.
Contact Greta Allen, the Blueprint’s Policy Director, with any questions about HB24-1390.
View our 2024 state policy platform and legislative tracker to learn more and see the status of these bills. The Blueprint’s platform and tracker includes all legislation that we’re actively or passively supporting during this year’s session.