Local Education Agencies

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to school meals.

Education

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Kyle, Clemmons
Last action: 2025-01-16
Official status: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact fiscal impact on local governments cannot be precisely determined due to multiple variables.

School Meals for All Students

This act requires local schools in Tennessee to provide free breakfast and lunch programs funded by state reimbursement after federal funds are used.

What This Bill Does

Requires each school board to establish a free breakfast and lunch program for every student enrolled in their jurisdiction.
States that the cost of these programs will be reimbursed by the state after using any available federal funds.

Who It Names or Affects

Local education agencies (LEAs) in Tennessee
Students enrolled in schools under local school boards

Terms To Know

Local Education Agencies (LEAs): School districts or other organizations that manage public schools.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact amount of state funding needed depends on how many schools participate and the availability of federal funds.
Some LEAs may face changes in their budget due to these new requirements, but a precise local fiscal impact cannot be determined.

Bill History

2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Failed in s/c Education Administration Subcommittee of Education Committee
2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 3/11/2025
2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee
2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Ref. to Education Committee
2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees
2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2024-11-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 12
By Clemmons

SENATE BILL 142
By Kyle

SB0142
000375
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to school meals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-2302, is amended by deleting
the section and substituting instead the following:
(a) Each local school board shall establish a school lunch program and a school
breakfast program that provide a free breakfast and lunch to each student enrolled in a
school under the board's jurisdiction in accordance with rules promulgated under § 49-6-
2303.
(b) The state shall reimburse each LEA the cost of providing a free breakfast
and lunch to each student enrolled in the LEA after all federal funds available pursuant
to the national school lunch program created by the National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. §§ 1751-1769), the school breakfast program created by the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. §§ 1771-1789), or another federal program have been applied.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-2303, is amended by deleting
the language ", regardless of its participation" in subdivision (5) and by deleting subdivision (10).
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter.