HB302: HB302 Leave No Georgia Child Hungry Act; enact

Georgia law does not currently guarantee free meals for students who attend after-school or summer school programs. This bill, called the "Leave No Georgia Child Hungry Act," would add a new section to Georgia's education code (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-187.1) directing the State Board of Education to figure out each year how much state money is needed to offer healthy meals at no charge to public school students in those programs. The State Board would write rules setting nutrition standards that meet or exceed federal minimums, require local school systems to submit compliance plans, and help districts apply for start-up grants. Local school systems would be encouraged, but not required, to run these meal programs, and the state would reimburse them for the cost, subject to money the General Assembly actually sets aside for the purpose.

• Directs the State Board of Education to annually calculate the state funding needed for free meals for students in after-school or summer school programs.
• Requires state funds for this purpose to supplement, not replace, any federal funding already available.
• Requires the State Board to set nutrition standards for these meal programs that meet or exceed federal minimums.
• Requires local school systems that want to participate to submit a compliance plan and allows the state to help them apply for start-up grants.
• Encourages, but does not require, local school systems to establish these free meal programs, with state reimbursement contingent on legislative funding.

Public school students enrolled in after-school or summer school programs, local school systems that choose to run the meal programs, and the State Board of Education, which would set rules, calculate funding needs, and manage reimbursements.

If enacted and funded, students in after-school or summer programs could receive free meals that are not guaranteed today, potentially easing food insecurity for families. Because the reimbursement depends on the General Assembly actually appropriating money, the practical effect hinges on future budget decisions.

• Section 1 gives the bill its short title, the "Leave No Georgia Child Hungry Act."
• Section 2 adds new Code section 20-2-187.1, requiring the State Board of Education to annually determine state funding needed for free meals in after-school and summer school programs.
• Section 2 requires state funds to supplement rather than replace federal funding for these meal programs.
• Section 2 directs the State Board to set minimum nutrition standards, require compliance plans from participating districts, and assist with start-up grant applications.
• Section 2 makes local participation optional ("encouraged") and ties state reimbursement to future legislative appropriations.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-10House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-06House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-05House Hopper (House)

• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)Primary sponsor
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)
• Demetrius Douglas (D, HD-078)
• Sharon Henderson (D, HD-113)

• school meals
• child hunger
• education funding
• after-school programs
• summer school