Bill · S. 2778· Senate(119-S-2778)
Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 9/11/2025
- Last activity
- 9/11/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Ron Wyden
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2025 aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. It establishes a program focused on the procurement of domestically grown, unprocessed fruits and vegetables to provide healthier school meals. The bill transitions a previous pilot project into a broader program. This program expands the number of participating projects and includes specific criteria for state selection. It also mandates a program evaluation and provides specific funding for various activities.
Yes· 3 of 13
Would children be better off under this?+5
The bill improves the nutritional quality of school meals through fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables.
Would farmers be better off under this?+5
The bill expands opportunities for small, local, and socially disadvantaged farmers to sell to schools.
Would business owners be better off under this?+4
The bill provides technical assistance and outreach to help vendors and agricultural producers participate in the program.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Healthier School Meals: The program seeks to provide healthier school meals through the procurement of domestically grown, unprocessed fruits and vegetables (Section 2).
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Support for Diverse Farmers: The bill includes provisions for states to demonstrate a commitment to supporting small, local, and socially disadvantaged farmers (Section 2, paragraph 4, subparagraph B).
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Support for Tribal Communities: The program recognizes the commitment of States to support Tribal agricultural producers and communities utilizing traditional foods (Section 2, paragraph 4, subparagraph C).
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Focus on Disadvantaged Children: Selection criteria consider whether a State will serve a high proportion of children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds (Section 2, paragraph 4, subparagraph D).
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Technical Assistance and Outreach: Funds are reserved to provide technical assistance and outreach to vendors, school food authorities, regional food hubs, State and local agencies, Indian Tribal organizations, and agricultural producers (Section 2, paragraph 6, subparagraph B, clause (ii), subclause (II)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Administrative and Economic Barriers: The bill's evaluation process is designed to identify potential economic, geographic, social, and administrative barriers to participation, such as the reimbursement process and eligibility requirements (Section 2, paragraph 5, clause (i), subclause (IV)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+5Good For Farmers+5Good For Business Owners+4Good For Native Americans+4Good For Low Income Households+3Good For African Americans+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3Improves Economic Growth+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+3Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Education And Technology
- Increases Public School Funding+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+1
- 9/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont