2024 Policy Priorities in the Legislative Session 

During the regular 2024 Legislative Session, Hunger Free Colorado will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen equitable food systems and ensure all Coloradans can access the nutrition they need in their communities. Throughout this session, will be focusing on the following policy priorities, while also supporting our partners as they work on other policies to address Coloradans’ basic needs and well-being:

Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program 

The Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program (FPAG) was established in 2018 with the goal of empowering communities in Colorado by providing crucial funding to food pantries throughout the state. Funding from this program enables food pantries to procure the nutrient-dense, local, and culturally relevant foods their communities want, and supports Colorado farmers and ranchers through local procurement. Our team is leading efforts to secure ongoing funding for the program, so that food pantries can continue to offer locally sourced, culturally resonant foods to their communities, supporting community food access and choice, and strengthening local food systems. 

Healthy Food Incentives Fund 

We will be supporting our friends at Nourish Colorado, as they seek permanent increased funding for the Healthy Food Incentive Fund, which supports the state’s Double Up Food Bucks program that brings in extra dollars for produce for SNAP participants. Permanent adequate funding for this program is important to ensuring that SNAP dollars can go further for SNAP participants and to make fruits and vegetables more accessible.  

Time to Eat 

We are joining a coalition led by our friends at Nourish Colorado and the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger to improve nutrition access for students, by exploring options for giving students more time to eat school meals. The passage of Healthy School Meals for All last year was a major victory for childhood nutrition, but we have heard from students, parents, cafeteria workers and other stakeholders that limited time to eat is a barrier for students.  

We are thrilled that one of our main legislative priorities for this coming session was already passed during an extraordinary special session this past November:

Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT)

Governor Jared Polis signed a Summer EBT bill into law, following its passage during the 2023 special session. Summer EBT is a new federal program that will serve as an additional support for low-income households. Families with children eligible for national free or reduced-price school meals will be eligible to receive $40/month per eligible child in Summer 2024. Hunger Free Colorado, in partnership with the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, led advocacy on this important bill to pave the way for the program to launch this summer. We want to give a huge thank you to Governor Polis and the bill’s sponsors: Sen. Jeff Bridges, Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, Rep. Shannon Bird, and Rep. Lorena Garcia, as well as the Colorado Department of Human Services and Colorado Department of Education, and all the dedicated advocates, for their tireless work to make this new program happen. This bill will make a positive difference in the lives of over 300,000 Colorado children this coming summer! Check out our fact sheet to learn more about Summer EBT for Colorado children here. 

Ongoing Advocacy

The Farm Bill

The Farm Bill is a package of legislation that is passed every five years and that affects farming, how food is grown, and how accessible that food is to low-income households. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is authorized and funded by this bill. As the Farm Bill comes up for reauthorization this year, we envision a Farm Bill that ensures that SNAP benefits meet peoples’ needs, and increases and expands eligibility for persons in need. We will continue to advocate for strengthening a program that is vital not just for individual households, but for our communities and state and national economy.

Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA)

Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) passed through a Colorado ballot measure in November 2022. HSMA provides universal school meals for CO children (pre and K-12), promoting childhood health and education. HSMA closes some of the gaps in the National School Lunch program, where students in need may not always be eligible. Thanks to HSMA, school food authorities will be reimbursed for free meals provided to students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals under federal school meal programs, ensuring that all children can access food without stigma. HSMA also provides funding for local purchasing of food as well as to support school cafeteria staffing needs, to better support schools in serving healthy and nutritious meals. We are also very excited about the establishment of parent and student advisory committees to ensure community voice in guiding food purchasing and meal development. 

Next Steps

The program began operating in the 2023-24 budget year. Currently, Hunger Free Colorado and various other partners across the state are closely collaborating with schools during the first year rollout phase. The process includes rulemaking and identifying school food authorities that will participate in and contribute to the program. Parent and student advisory committees are also being established in these districts to provide advice from community voices.

To stay updated on the implementation of this exciting program, sign up to receive advocacy alerts and our newsletter.

SNAP College Hunger

Temporary SNAP policy changes during the Public Health Emergency have made it easier for thousands of low-income college students to qualify for food help. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps eligible low-income households buy food. In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, the federal government has expanded college students’ access to SNAP. Hunger Free Colorado worked with CDHS and CDHE to compile a Student Guide to SNAP and a Hunger Free Campus checklist for institutions of higher education to address hunger on campus. 

As the Public Health Emergency ends in May 2023, Hunger Free Colorado will continue to advocate for greater student access to SNAP. One possible vehicle for advocacy is the 2023 Farm Bill, which authorizes and funds SNAP. We will continue to draw attention to student hunger and the need for increased access to vital food resources.

COVID Food Insecurity Surveys

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hunger Free Colorado began quarterly surveys across the state to find out how the pandemic has impacted Coloradans’ access to food and economic security. The third statewide survey, conducted in December by Hunger Free Colorado, found the rate of hunger has hit a new high since the start of the pandemic. Almost 40 percent of Coloradans are food insecure, meaning they lack reliable access to nutritious food. Parents and people of color face higher rates of food insecurity.

Immigrant Food Access & Public Charge

Immigrant families often face unique barriers to accessing the nutrition programs that can help them thrive. These barriers include harmful policies that exclude some immigrant populations from programs, misinformation about the repercussions of accessing resources, and a lack of language access and culturally appropriate food. At the same time, COVID-19 and a range of attacks on immigrant families (including the public charge rule) increase the need for these community-based food resources. Hunger Free Colorado has been working to address barriers to programs, inform immigrant communities about available food resources, and advocate for changes in legislation, such as public charge.