Senate Bill 25b-003 Introduced

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning supporting access to healthy food for

• Page 1, Line 102Coloradans, and, in connection therewith, amending

• Page 1, Line 103the ballot issue language for a measure on the

• Page 1, Line 104November 2025 ballot and modifying the permissible

• Page 1, Line 105uses of the healthy school meals for all cash fund.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)

Section 2 of the bill amends the ballot title language for the ballot issue concerning increasing taxes annually by $95 million to support the healthy school meals for all program (program) that the secretary of state will submit to the voters at the November 2025 statewide election. The amended ballot title language allows the additional tax revenue authorized by the ballot issue to be spent on supporting access to healthy food for Colorado kids and families and not just on the program.

Section 3 amends the healthy school meals for all cash fund (fund), as the fund would exist upon voters approving the ballot issue concerning increasing taxes annually by $95 million to support the program that the secretary of state will submit to the voters at the November 2025 statewide election. Section 3 expands the permissible uses of money in the fund. Section 3 allows money in the fund to be used for, among other things, supporting the implementation of the supplemental nutritional assistance program, so long as the program is fully funded first.

• Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

• Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1.  Legislative declaration. (1)  The general assembly finds and declares that:

• Page 2, Line 3(a)  In July 2025, the United States Congress passed, and the

• Page 2, Line 4president signed into law, a federal budget bill, Pub.L. 119-21, that

• Page 2, Line 5significantly reduced funding for the supplemental nutritional assistance

• Page 2, Line 6program and shifted new and ongoing financial responsibilities to the states;

• Page 2, Line 7(b)  These federal changes are projected to, starting in state fiscal

• Page 2, Line 8year 2026-27, impose at least $50 million in new annual costs to the state

• Page 2, Line 9of Colorado to administer the supplemental nutritional assistance program

• Page 2, Line 10and, in future years, potentially impose additional costs to the state of

• Page 2, Line 11Colorado to provide a portion of the supplemental nutritional assistance program benefits;

• Page 2, Line 12(c)  The federal budget bill also reduced funding for

• Page 2, Line 13community-based outreach and application assistance in connection with

• Page 2, Line 14the supplemental nutrition assistance program, which play a critical role in helping Coloradans access and retain program benefits;

• Page 3, Line 1(d)   Outreach for the supplemental nutritional assistance program

• Page 3, Line 2promotes both equitable access and efficient, accurate administration of

• Page 3, Line 3the program, helping prevent avoidable payment errors while maintaining access for all eligible people;

• Page 3, Line 4(e)  The federal budget bill also eliminated the nation's only

• Page 3, Line 5dedicated nutrition education program for households that benefit from

• Page 3, Line 6the supplemental nutritional assistance program, ending over $6 million

• Page 3, Line 7in funding for Colorado and eliminating access to programs that are vital

• Page 3, Line 8for improving food security, dietary quality, and the ability to stretch limited food budgets for 325,000 Coloradans including 30,000 families;

• Page 3, Line 9(f)  The United States department of agriculture's data shows that

• Page 3, Line 10for every dollar spent on nutrition education, up to $10.64 is saved in health-care spending;

• Page 3, Line 11(g)  The supplemental nutritional assistance program education

• Page 3, Line 12directly reduces risk factors for conditions like diabetes, hypertension,

• Page 3, Line 13and obesity-chronic diseases that account for the bulk of health-care costs;

• Page 3, Line 14(h)  Nutrition education is even more critical when families face

• Page 3, Line 15steeper food prices and changes to the supplemental nutritional assistance

• Page 3, Line 16program structure and eligibility that result in families needing support in doing more with less;

• Page 3, Line 17(i)  Without investments in these programs, the hundreds of

• Page 3, Line 18thousands of Coloradans-including children, families, older adults,

• Page 3, Line 19veterans, and workers-who are eligible to receive supplemental nutritional

• Page 3, Line 20assistance program benefits are at risk of losing vital food assistance and

• Page 3, Line 21more Coloradans will go hungry;

• Page 4, Line 1(j)  House Bill 25-1274 directed the secretary of state to submit

• Page 4, Line 2Proposition MM to the registered voters of the state to raise additional

• Page 4, Line 3revenue for the full implementation of the healthy school meals for all

• Page 4, Line 4program and its components, since the revenue raised in connection with

• Page 4, Line 5Proposition FF was insufficient to fund the full implementation of the healthy school meals for all program and its components; and

• Page 4, Line 6(k)   By modifying Proposition MM to support healthy food access

• Page 4, Line 7for Colorado kids and families and to allow excess money collected

• Page 4, Line 8beyond that necessary to fully fund and implement the healthy school

• Page 4, Line 9meals for all program to be used to support filling the gap in funding for

• Page 4, Line 10the supplemental nutritional assistance program caused by the reduced

• Page 4, Line 11funding for the program as a result of the federal budget bill, voter

• Page 4, Line 12approval of Proposition MM will ensure that all Coloradans have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.

• Page 4, Line 13SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-82.9-213, amend (1) as follows:

• Page 4, Line 1422-82.9-213.  Ballot issue related to Proposition FF revenue

• Page 4, Line 15increase - repeal. (1)  At the statewide election held in November 2025,

• Page 4, Line 16the secretary of state shall submit to the registered electors of the state for

• Page 4, Line 17their approval or rejection the following ballot issue: "Shall state taxes be

• Page 4, Line 18increased by $95 million annually by a change to the Colorado Revised

• Page 4, Line 19Statutes that, to support the healthy school meals for all program,

• Page 4, Line 20increases to support access to healthy food for Colorado kids

• Page 4, Line 21and families, including the healthy school meals for all

• Page 4, Line 22program, and, in connection therewith, increasing state taxable

• Page 4, Line 23income only for individuals who have a federal tax income of $300,000

• Page 4, Line 24or more by limiting itemized or standard state income tax deductions to

• Page 5, Line 1$1,000 for single tax return filers and $2,000 for joint tax return filers for

• Page 5, Line 2the purposes of fully funding the healthy school meals for all program to

• Page 5, Line 3continue paying for public schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all

• Page 5, Line 4public school students while also increasing wages for employees who

• Page 5, Line 5prepare and serve school meals, helping schools use basic, nutritious

• Page 5, Line 6ingredients, instead of processed products, and ensuring that Colorado

• Page 5, Line 7grown and raised products are part of school meals; supporting the

• Page 5, Line 8supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) that helps

• Page 5, Line 9low-income Colorado families afford groceries; and shall the state

• Page 5, Line 10be allowed allowing the state to retain and spend as a voter-approved

• Page 5, Line 11revenue change all additional tax revenue generated by these tax deduction changes?"

• Page 5, Line 17SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-82.9-211, amend

• Page 5, Line 18as it will become effective if the ballot issue described in section

• Page 5, Line 1922-82.9-213 is approved by the people at the next statewide election

• Page 5, Line 20(1)(c), (3)(a) introductory portion, (3)(e) introductory portion, (3)(f)

• Page 5, Line 21introductory portion, and (3)(g); amend as it exists unless the ballot

• Page 5, Line 22issue described in section 22-82.9-212 is approved by the people at the

• Page 5, Line 23next statewide election and the ballot issue described in section

• Page 5, Line 2422-82.9-213 is rejected by the people at the next statewide election(3)(a)(IV); and add (3)(a)(VI), (3)(a)(VII), and (3)(a)(VIII) as follows:

• Page 5, Line 2522-82.9-211.  Healthy school meals for all program cash fund

• Page 6, Line 1- creation - uses - reporting requirements - legislative declaration -

• Page 6, Line 2definitions - repeal. (1)  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 6, Line 3(c)  "Reserve calculation" means a calculation that determines the

• Page 6, Line 4amount expended by the department for the purposes described in

• Page 6, Line 5subsections (3)(a)(II), (3)(a)(III), (3)(a)(IV), (3)(a)(VI), (3)(a)(VII),

• Page 6, Line 6(3)(a)(VIII), and (3)(a.5) of this section in accordance with subsections

• Page 6, Line 7(3)(c) to (3)(g) of this section. The reserve calculation shall independently

• Page 6, Line 8be computed for subsections (3)(c) to (3)(g) of this section by legislative

• Page 6, Line 9council, in consultation with the department, and based on the relevant

• Page 6, Line 10projections in the March economic and revenue forecast prepared by

• Page 6, Line 11legislative council staff. The computation of the reserve calculation for

• Page 6, Line 12each of subsections (3)(c) to (3)(g) of this section shall result in a

• Page 6, Line 13percentage equal to the anticipated balance in the fund as of the beginning

• Page 6, Line 14of the fiscal year plus any additional money that will be deposited in or

• Page 6, Line 15transferred to the fund over the course of the fiscal year minus the

• Page 6, Line 16estimated amount of money expended by the department for the purposes

• Page 6, Line 17described in subsections (3)(a) and (3)(a.5) of this section in accordance

• Page 6, Line 18with the subsection of this section for which the reserve calculation is

• Page 6, Line 19computed divided by the estimated amount expended by the department

• Page 6, Line 20for the purposes described in subsections (3)(a)(I) and (3)(a)(V) of this

• Page 6, Line 21section in accordance with the subsection of this section for which the reserve calculation is computed.

• Page 6, Line 22(3) (a)  Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly,

• Page 6, Line 23the department may expend money may be expended from the fund that is not in the account for the following purposes:

• Page 6, Line 24(IV)  Awarding local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grants pursuant to section 22-82.9-207; and

• Page 7, Line 1(VI)  Implementing the supplemental nutritional assistance program;

• Page 7, Line 2(VII)  Providing outreach related to the supplemental nutritional assistance program; and

• Page 7, Line 3(VIII)  Providing community-based nutrition education.

• Page 7, Line 4(e)  If the department expending money from the fund as follows

• Page 7, Line 5would result in a reserve calculation amount equal to or greater than

• Page 7, Line 6twenty-five percent and less than forty thirty-five percent, then the

• Page 7, Line 7department shall expend money from the fund, including money in the

• Page 7, Line 8account in accordance with subsection (3)(a.5)(II) of this section, as follows:

• Page 7, Line 9(f)  If the department expending money from the fund as follows

• Page 7, Line 10would result in a reserve calculation amount equal to or greater than forty  

• Page 7, Line 11thirty-five percent, and, for state fiscal years commencing on or after

• Page 7, Line 12July 1, 2029, less than fifty percent, then the department shall expend

• Page 7, Line 13money from the fund, including money in the account in accordance with subsection (3)(a.5)(II) of this section, as follows:

• Page 7, Line 14(g)  For fiscal years commencing on or after July 1, 2029, If, upon

• Page 7, Line 15awarding money according to subsection (3)(f) of this section, the

• Page 7, Line 16department determines that doing so would result in a reserve calculation

• Page 7, Line 17amount equal to fifty thirty-five percent or more, then the department

• Page 7, Line 18shall expend money may be expended from the fund, including money

• Page 7, Line 19in the account in accordance with subsection (3)(a.5)(II) of this section

• Page 7, Line 20by increasing the amounts awarded and distributed from the fund to

• Page 7, Line 21amounts greater than those described in subsection (3)(f) of this section

• Page 7, Line 22awarding and distributing amounts from the fund as described

• Page 8, Line 1in subsection (3)(f) of this section and then funding the

• Page 8, Line 2implementation of the supplemental nutritional assistance

• Page 8, Line 3program in a manner that supplements and does not supplant the

• Page 8, Line 4state's expenditures, as of July 1, 2025, to implement the

• Page 8, Line 5supplemental nutritional assistance program; outreach related

• Page 8, Line 6to the supplemental nutritional assistance program; and community-based nutrition education.

• Page 8, Line 7SECTION 4.  Effective date. (1)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, this act takes effect upon passage.

• Page 8, Line 8(2)  Section 22-82.9-211 (1)(c), (3)(a) introductory portion, (3)(e)

• Page 8, Line 9introductory portion, (3)(f) introductory portion, (3)(g), (3)(a)(VI),

• Page 8, Line 10(3)(a)(VII), and (3)(a)(VIII), Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended and

• Page 8, Line 11enacted in section 3 of this act, take effect only if, at the November 2025

• Page 8, Line 12statewide election, the ballot issue described in section 22-82.9-213,

• Page 8, Line 13Colorado Revised Statutes, is approved by the people, in which case

• Page 8, Line 14section 22-82.9-211 (1)(c), (3)(a) introductory portion, (3)(e) introductory

• Page 8, Line 15portion, (3)(f) introductory portion, (3)(g), (3)(a)(VI), (3)(a)(VII), and

• Page 8, Line 16(3)(a)(VIII), Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended and enacted in

• Page 8, Line 17section 3 of this act, take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.

• Page 8, Line 18SECTION 5.  Safety clause. The general assembly finds,

• Page 8, Line 19determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate

• Page 8, Line 20preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for

• Page 8, Line 21the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.