HF 851 — A bill for an act relating to student nutrition, including by modifying the curricula provided to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve to include instruction related to nutrition, modifying provisions related to the agriculture, food, and natural resources component of the career and technical education instruction provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve, and modifying provisions related to school meal programs, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

House File 851 - IntroducedReprinted HOUSE FILE 851 BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 173) (COMPANION TO SF 525 BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE) (As Amended and Passed by the House March 19, 2025) A BILL FOR An Act relating to student nutrition, including by modifying the curricula provided to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade twelve to include instruction related to nutrition, modifying provisions related to the agriculture, food, and natural resources component of the career and technical education instruction provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve, and modifying provisions related to school meal programs, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

TLSBHF 2488HV851 (2)(3) 91 jda/jhjda/jh/md H.F.

(a) The importance of animal-based protein, dairy, LSBHF 2488HV851 (2)(3) 91 -1- jda/jhjda/jh/md 1/91/8 H.F.

LSBHF 2488HV851 (2)(3) 91 -2- jda/jhjda/jh/md 2/92/8 H.F.

Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph j, LSBHF 2488HV851 (2)(3) 91 -3- jda/jhjda/jh/md 3/93/8 H.F.

Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4, and section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “j”, subparagraph (1), related to instruction on nutrition in the same manner as a LSBHF 2488HV851 (2)(3) 91 -4- jda/jhjda/jh/md 4/94/8 H.F.

The department shall consult with the department of agriculture and land stewardship, LSBHF 2488HV851 (2)(3) 91 -5- jda/jhjda/jh/md 5/95/8 H.F.

Provide recommendations to the department of education LSBHF 2488HV851 (2)(3) 91 -6- jda/jhjda/jh/md 6/96/8 H.F.

EXPLANATIONSec. The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.

This8. bill relates to student nutrition, including by modifying the curricula provided to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 to include instruction related to nutrition, modifying provisions related to the agriculture, food, and natural resources component of the career and technical education instruction provided to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12, and modifying provisions related to school meal programs.

TheAPPLICABILITY. bill requires school districts, accredited nonpublic LSB 2488HV (2) 91 -7- jda/jh 7/9 H.F.

851The schools,following charterapply schools, and innovation zone schools to provideschool instructionyears relatedbeginning toon nutritionor toafter studentsJuly enrolled1, in2026: kindergarten through grade 12.

The1. bill also requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to provide instruction related to food production and the benefits of local sourcing as part of the agriculture, food, and natural resources component of the career and technical education curriculum in grades 9 through 12.

The bill creates new Code section 283A.14, which requires the department of educationthis (DE)Act to,amending withinsection 90256.11, dayssubsections after2, the3, effective date of the bill, apply for a waiver under federal law to request an exemption from certain limits and requirements4. related to school breakfast and lunch programs and to request permission to substitute or modify federal requirements with state-specific nutritional guidelines that align with Iowa’s dietary recommendations or cultural food practices.

The2. bill provides that if the waiver is granted, DE is required to adopt updated guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal for purposes of Iowa’s school meal programs.

The billsection establishesof requirementsthis relatedAct toamending thesesection guidelines256.11, andsubsection persons5, withparagraph whom“h”, DEsubparagraph is(1), requiredsubparagraph todivision consult(a). during the process of updating the guidelines.

Also,3. if the waiver is granted, the bill requires DE and the department of agriculture and land stewardship to establish a joint committee related to the guidelines and establishes the joint committee’s duties.

NewThe Code section 283A.14 requires DE to submit an annual report to the general assembly that describes the impact of thethis guidelinesAct foramending whatsection constitutes256.11, asubsection nutritionally5, adequateparagraph meal,“j”, includingsubparagraph information(1). related to school breakfast and lunch program participation, student health outcomes, feedback from school districts, progress in implementing the guidelines, challenges associated with implementing the guidelines, and recommendations for further enhancement of the guidelines, if LSB 2488HV (2) 91 -8- jda/jh 8/9 H.F.

8514. the waiver is granted.

NewThe Code section 283A.14 also requires DE to conduct an evaluation to assess the effectiveness of thethis guidelinesAct foramending whatsection constitutes256E.7, asubsection nutritionally2, adequateparagraph meal“g”. compared to the comparable federal standards within five years after the effective date of the waiver, if the waiver is granted.

New5. Code section 283A.14 takes effect upon enactment.

LSBThe 2488HVsection (2)of this Act amending section 256F.4, HF 851 (3) 91 -9--7- jda/jhjda/jh/md 9/97/8 H.F.

851 subsection 2.

HF 851 (3) 91 -8- jda/jh/md 8/8