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HB26-1351 • 2026

Healthy School Meals for All State Education Fund

Joint Budget Committee. During the 2023-24 and 2024-25 state fiscal years, the general assembly appropriated money from the state education fund for expenditures related to the healthy school meals fo

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Rep. K. Brown, Rep. E. Sirota, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. J. Bridges, Rep. R. Taggart, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. K. McCormick, Rep. T. Story
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes a statement about transferring money back to the state education fund which is not supported by the provided official source material.

Healthy School Meals Funding

This bill changes when money is transferred from the healthy school meals for all program fund to the state education fund and delays future transfers from the state education fund to the healthy school meals program.

What This Bill Does

  • Transfers $31,066,831 from the healthy school meals for all program fund to the state education fund on July 1, 2026.
  • Delays the requirement that money be transferred from the state education fund to the healthy school meals program starting in 2028 instead of 7/1/2026.
  • Removes reporting requirements related to the healthy school meals for all program cash fund.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The state treasurer, who is responsible for transferring money between funds.
  • Schools and students receiving free or reduced-cost meals through the healthy school meals program.

Terms To Know

Healthy School Meals Program
A program that provides free or reduced-cost meals to eligible students in schools.
State Education Fund
A fund used by the state to support education-related expenses and programs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be transferred from the state education fund starting in 2028.
  • It is unclear what impact this delay might have on schools or students receiving meals through the program.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Senate

    Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  2. 2026-04-13 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations

  3. 2026-04-11 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  4. 2026-04-09 House

    House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  5. 2026-04-08 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-04-06 House

    House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

  7. 2026-04-02 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Joint Budget Committee.
During the 2023-24 and 2024-25 state fiscal years, the general assembly appropriated money from the state education fund for expenditures related to the healthy school meals for all program. The bill directs the state treasurer to transfer $31,066,831 from the healthy school meals for all program fund to the state education fund on July 1, 2026.
Under current law, beginning on July 1, 2026, and on each July 1 thereafter, the state treasurer is required to transfer money from the state education fund to the healthy school meals for all program fund account (account) within the fund. The bill delays that requirement so that the treasurer is required to transfer money from the state education fund to the account beginning on July 1, 2028. In addition, the bill repeals reporting requirements related to money in the healthy school meals for all program cash fund.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0753.02 Pierce Lively x2059 HOUSE BILL 26-1351
House Committees Senate Committees
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE USE OF STATE EDUCATION FUND MONEY TO FUND101
THE HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAM.102
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/.)
Joint Budget Committee. During the 2023-24 and 2024-25 state
fiscal years, the general assembly appropriated money from the state
education fund for expenditures related to the healthy school meals for all
program. The bill directs the state treasurer to transfer $31,066,831 from
the healthy school meals for all program fund to the state education fund
on July 1, 2026.
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 11, 2026
HOUSE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 8, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Brown and Sirota, Taggart, Duran, McCormick, Story
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Amabile and Bridges, Kirkmeyer
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
Under current law, beginning on July 1, 2026, and on each July 1
thereafter, the state treasurer is required to transfer money from the state
education fund to the healthy school meals for all program fund account
(account) within the fund. The bill delays that requirement so that the
treasurer is required to transfer money from the state education fund to
the account beginning on July 1, 2028. In addition, the bill repeals
reporting requirements related to money in the healthy school meals for
all program cash fund.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-82.9-209, add (3)2
as follows:3
22-82.9-209. Program - funding - repeal.4
(3) (a) ON JULY 1, 2026, THE STATE TREASURER SHALL TRANSFER5
THIRTY-ONE MILLION SIXTY-SIX THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE6
DOLLARS FROM THE HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAM CASH7
FUND TO THE STATE EDUCATION FUND.8
(b) THIS SUBSECTION (3) IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2027. 9
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-82.9-211, amend10
(4.5)(a), (4.5)(b), and (4.5)(c); and repeal (8) as follows: 11
22-82.9-211. Healthy school meals for all program cash fund12
- creation - uses - reporting requirements - legislative declaration -13
definitions - repeal.14
(4.5) (a) On July 1, 2026 JULY 1, 2028, and each July 1 thereafter,15
the state treasurer shall transfer an amount from the state education fund16
to the account equal to the amount reported by the office of state planning17
and budgeting pursuant to subsection (4.5)(b) of this section.18
(b) Before July 1, 2026 JULY 1, 2028, and before each July 119
thereafter, the office of state planning and budgeting shall, in20
collaboration with the department of revenue, prepare an estimate of the21
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amount of state education fund healthy school meals for all revenue for1
the following fiscal year and report that estimate to the state treasurer.2
(c) (I) On July 1, 2026 JULY 1, 2028, in addition to the amount3
described in subsection (4.5)(a) of this section, the state treasurer shall4
transfer an amount from the state education fund to the fund equal to the5
amount reported by the office of state planning and budgeting pursuant6
to subsection (4.5)(c)(II) of this section.7
(II) Before July 1, 2026 JULY 1, 2028, the office of state planning8
and budgeting shall, in collaboration with the department of revenue,9
prepare an estimate of the amount of state education fund healthy school10
meals for all revenue for the immediately preceding fiscal year and report11
that estimate to the state treasurer.12
(8) (a) On or before January 15, 2027, the department, in13
consultation with the office of state planning and budgeting, shall report14
to the joint budget committee of the general assembly on whether there15
is a sufficient balance in the cash fund for:16
(I) The state treasurer to transfer an amount from the cash fund to17
the state education fund equal to the total amount of expenditures from18
the state education fund for the purposes of subsection (3) of this section19
minus the amount of additional tax revenue deposited in the state20
education fund as a result of section 39-22-104 (3)(p.5) for state fiscal21
years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26; and22
(II) The department to provide reimbursements to a participating23
school food authority for offering eligible meals without charge pursuant24
to section 22-82.9-204 (1).25
(b) This subsection (8) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.26
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,27
1351-3-
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate1
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for2
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state3
institutions.4
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