HB273 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Terri CollinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Hunger-Free Campus Act administered by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, provides for the designation of qualified public two-year and four-year institutions of higher education as hunger free campuses

Summary

The Hunger-Free Campus Act creates a process for Alabama colleges and universities to be designated as hunger-free campuses and provides grants to support on-campus food pantries and student food-assistance programs.

What This Bill Does

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education will establish an application process to designate hunger-free campuses. Institutions must form a hunger-free task force, provide SNAP information or on-campus SNAP options, host at least one food insecurity event per academic year, provide a pantry or pantry information, and offer a student meal credit donation program or free food vouchers, with student surveys every two years. Designations are valid for two years and may be renewed for two more; if renewal criteria are not met, the institution receives notice and a 45-day correction period, and may not renew if still noncompliant. The commission will award competitive grants to designated campuses to buy equipment and supplies for pantries (e.g., refrigeration, shelving), prioritizing campuses with higher Pell Grant recipient enrollment, and grant recipients must file annual reports on hunger-free activities; the commission will report to legislative committees about funds and effectiveness. The act takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Institutions of higher education in Alabama (public or private, two-year or four-year) that apply for designation and must meet criteria; they will establish task forces, implement SNAP-related practices, operate pantries or pantry resources, and may receive grant funding.
• Students and campus communities (including faculty and staff) at designated campuses who gain access to food pantry resources, SNAP information or on-campus SNAP options, meal vouchers or donations, and regular surveys and events addressing food insecurity.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Hunger-Free Campus Act and designates the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) to administer designation, eligibility, and renewal processes.
• Requires institutions to form a hunger-free task force with student representatives, student affairs, financial aid, and other appropriate members; appoint a staff member to assist with SNAP information.
• Requires campuses to provide SNAP options on campus or information about local SNAP resources, host at least one food insecurity awareness event per year, and provide or link to a physical food pantry or local pantry information.
• Requires either a student meal credit donation program or free food voucher program for students, and requires a student food insecurity survey at least every two years.
• Designations are valid for two years and may be renewed for another two years; non-renewal procedures include notice and a 45-day correction period, with renewal eligibility prerequisites.
• Provides for competitive grants to designated campuses, prioritized to those with higher percentages of Pell Grant recipients, to buy equipment and supplies for pantries (e.g., refrigeration, shelving) and pantry upgrades.
• Requires grant recipients to submit annual reports on hunger-free activities; ACHE must report to legislative committees on fund use and program effectiveness.
• Allows ACHE to adopt rules to administer and implement the program; funds appropriated may be used for operation and maintenance; funds are non-reverting.
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education