SB 3 — Healthy School Meals For All

NOTE:SENATE BILL 25B-003 BY SENATOR(S)Michaelson Jenet and Wallace,Amabile, Ball, Bridges, Cutter,Danielson,Daugherty,Exum,GonzalesJ., Hinrichsen,Jodeh,Kipp, Kolker, Marchman, Mullica, Roberts, Rodriguez, Snyder, Sullivan, Weissman, Winter F., Coleman;

This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative officers and the Governor.

To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative history, or the Session Laws.

SENATE BILL 25B-003 BYSENATOR(S) Michaelson JenetandWallace,Amabile,Ball,Bridges, Cutter,Danielson,Daugherty,Exum,GonzalesJ.,Hinrichsen,Jodeh,Kipp, Kolker, Marchman, Mullica, Roberts, Rodriguez, Snyder, Sullivan, Weissman, Winter F., Coleman;

CCONCERNINGSUPPORTINGACCESSTO ONCERNINGHEALTHYFOODFORCOLORADANS, SUPPORTINGAND, ACCESSIN TO HEALTHY FOOD FOR C OLORADANS , AND ,IN CONNECTION THEREWITHTHEREWITH, ,AMENDINGAMENDING THE BALLOT ISSUE LANGUAGELANGUAGEFORAMEASUREONTHENOVEMBER2025 FORBALLOTAND AMODIFYINGTHEPERMISSIBLEUSESOFTHEHEALTHYSCHOOLMEALS MEASUREFORALLCASHFUND. ON THE N OVEMBER 2025 BALLOT AND MODIFYING THE PERMISSIBLE USES OF THE HEALTHY SCHOOLMEALS FOR ALL CASH FUND .

Be it enacted by the GeneralGeneralAssembly Assemblyofthe of the State ofofColorado: Colorado:

________ Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law;

dashes through words or numbers indicate deletionsdeletionsfrom from existing law andandsuch such material is notnotpart part of the act.

(c) The federal budget bill also reduced funding for community-based outreach and application assistance in connection with the supplemental nutrition assistance program, which playaplay a critical role in helping Coloradans access and retain program benefits;

(d) Outreach for the supplemental nutritional assistance program promotesbothequitableaccessandefficient,accurateadministrationofthepromotes bothequitableaccessand efficient, accurateadministration ofthe program, helping prevent avoidable payment errors while maintaining access for all eligible people;

(e) The federal budget bill also eliminated the nation's only dedicatednutritioneducationprogramforhouseholdsdedicated nutrition education program for households that benefitfromthebenefit from the supplemental nutritional assistance program, ending over $6 million in funding for Colorado and eliminating access to programs that are vital for improving food security, dietary quality, and the ability to stretch limited food budgets for 325,000 Coloradans including 30,000 families;

(f) TheUnitedStatesdepartmentofagriculture'sdatashowsthatforTheUnited Statesdepartment ofagriculture'sdatashowsthat for every dollar spent on nutrition education, up to $10.64 is saved in health-care spending;

(g) The supplemental nutritional assistance program education directlyreducesdirectly reduces risk factors for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity-chronic diseases that account for the bulk of health-care costs;

(i) Without investments in these programs, the hundreds of thousandsofColoradans-includingchildren,families,olderadults,veterans,thousandsofColoradans-includingchildren, andworkers-whoareeligibletoreceivesupplementalnutritionalassistancefamilies,olderadults,veterans, andworkers-whoare eligibletoreceivesupplemental nutritionalassistance program benefits are at risk of losing vital food assistance and more Coloradans will go hungry;

and (k) By modifying Proposition MM to support healthy food access forColoradokidsandfamiliesandtoallowexcessmoneycollectedbeyondfor Colorado kids and familiesandtoallow excessmoneycollected beyond that necessarytonecessary fullyfundto fully fund and implement the healthyschoolhealthy school meals for all program to be used to support filling the gap in funding for the supplementalnutritionalassistanceprogramcausedbythereducedfundingsupplemental nutritional assistanceprogram caused bythereduced funding for the program as a result of the federal budget bill, voter approval of Proposition MM will ensure that all Coloradans have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.

Ballot issue related to Proposition FF revenue increase-repeal.(1)increase- AtthestatewideelectionheldinNovember2025,therepeal.(1) secretaryofAtthestatewideelectionheld stateinNovember2025,the shallsecretary ofstateshall submit totothe theregisteredelectors registeredofthestate electorsof thestate for their approval or rejection the following ballot issue:

"Shall state taxes be increased by $95 million annually by a change to the Colorado Revised Statutesthat, totosupport supportc thehcalthyschool healthyschoolmca mealss forallprogram,increasesforail TOSUPPORTACCESSTOHEALTHYFOODFORprogram, COLORADOKIDSANDFAMILIESincrcascs ,TOSUPPORTACCESSTOHEALTHYFOODFORCOLORADOKIDSANDFAMILIES, INCLUDING THE HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL PROGRAMPROGRAM, ,ANDAND, ,ININ CONNECTION THEREWITHTHEREWITH, , INCREASING state taxable income only for individuals who have a federal taxTAXABLEtax incomeTAXABLEincome of $300,000 or more by limiting itemized or standard state income tax deductions to $1,000 for singletaxsingle tax return filersand$2,000forjointtaxreturnfilersforthepurposesfilers offullyfundingthehealthyschoolmealsforallprogramtocontinuepayingand $2,000 forjoint tax return filers forthepurposes offullyfundingthe healthyschoolmealsforallprogram to continuepaying PAGE 3-SENATE BILL 25B-003 for public schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all public school studentswhile also increasingincreasingwages wages for employees who prepare and serve school meals, helping schools use basic, nutritious ingredients, instead of processed products, and ensuringensuringthat that Colorado grown and raised products are part of school meals;

SUPPORTING THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) THAT HELPS LOWLOW-INCOME -INCOME COLORADO FAMILIESAFFORDGROCERIESFAMILIESAFFORDGROCERIES;andshall ;andshallthestatebeallowedthestate be allowed ALLOWINGTHE STATESTATEtoretainand toretainandspendasavoter-approvedrevenuechangealladditionalspendasavoter-approved revenuechangealladditional tax revenue generated by these tax deduction changes?" Changes in Income Taxes Owed by Income Category Income Category Proposed Change in Average Income Tax Owed $299,999 or less $0 $300,000 or more +$486 SECTION 3.

In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-82.9-211, amend as it will become effective if the ballot issue described in section 22-82.9-213 is approved by the people at the next statewide election (1)(c), (3)(a) introductory portion, (3)(e) introductory portion, (3)(f) introductoryportion,introductory portion, and (3)(g);amendasitexistsunlesstheballotissue(3)(g);amend as it exists unless the ballot issue described in section 22-82.9-212 is approved by the people at the next statewide election and the ballot issue described in section 22-82.9-213 isrejectedbythepeopleatthenextstatewideelection(3)(a)(IV);amendis (3)(a)(II)rejected andbythe (3)(a)(III);peopleat the nextstatewide election (3)(a)(IV);amend (3)(a)(II) and(3)(a)(III);

The reserve calculation shall independently be computed for subsections (3)(c) to (3)(g) of this section by legislative council, in consultation with the department, and based on the relevant PAGE 4-SENATE BILL 25B-003 projections in the March economic and revenue forecast prepared by legislativecouncilstaff.Thecomputationofthereservecalculationforeach of subsections (3)(c) to (3)(g) of this section shall result inipercentage a percentage equal to thetheanticipated anticipated balance in the fund as of the beginning ofofthe the fiscal yearplusanyadditionalmoneythatwillbedepositedinortransferredtotheyearplusanyadditional moneythatwill bedeposited inortransferredtothe fund over the course of the fiscal year minus the estimated amount of money expended by the department for the purposes described in subsections (3)(a) and (3)(a.5) of this section in accordance with the subsection of this section for which the reserve calculation is computed divided by the estimated amount expended by the department for the purposes described in subsections (3)(a)(I) and (3)(a)(V) of this sectionsectiin in accordance with the subsection of this section for which the reserve calculation is computed.

(3)(3)(a) (a) Subject to annual appropriation bytheby the general assembly, the departmentmayexpendmoneydepartmentmayexpend MAYBEEXPENDEDmoney fromthefundthatisnotMAYBEEXPENDEDfrom the fundthat isnot in the account for thethefollowing following purposes:

(II) BGINNINGBEGINNINGJULY1,2026,awardinglocal JULYfoodpurchasing 1,2026,awardinglocalfoodpurchasinggrantsgrants pursuant to section 22-82.9-205;

(III) BGINNINGBEGINNINGJULY JULY 1,2026, distributing moneyto a participating school food authoritytoauthority to increase wages or provide stipends for individuals whom the participating school food authority employs to directly prepare and serve food for school meals pursuant to section 22-82.9-206 (1);

(IV) BBEGINNING EGINNINGJULY ULY 1, 2026, awarding local school food purchasing technical assistance and education grants pursuant to section 22-82.9-207;

andan-d (VI) BEGINNINGBEGINNINGJULY1,2026, JULYIMPLEMENTINGTHESUPPLEMENTAL 1,2026,NUTRITIONALASSISTANCEPROGRAM; IMPLEMENTING THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ;

(VII) BEGINNINGBEGINNINGJULY1,2026, ULYPROVIDINGOUTREACHRELATEDTO 1,2026,THESUPPLEMENTALNUTRITIONALASSISTANCEPROGRAM;AND PROVIDING OUTREACH RELATED TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ;AND (VIII) BBEGINNING EGINNING JULY 1, 2026, PROVIDING COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY-BASED -BASEDNUTRITIONEDUCATION. NUTRITION EDUCATION .

(e) If the department expending money from the fund as follows PAGE 5-SENATE BILL 25B-003 would result in a reserve calculation amount equal to or greater than twenty-five percent and less than forty THIRTYTHIRTY-FIVE -FIVE percent, then the department shall expend money from the fund, including money in the account in accordance with subsection (3)(a.5)(II) of this section, as follows:

(f) If the department expending money from the fund as follows would result in a reserve calculation amountamouequal equal to or greater than forty€orty THIRTYTHIRTY-FIVEpercent,and,forstatefiscalyearscommencingon -FIVEpercent,and,forstatefiscalyearscommencingonorafterJulyorafterJuly 1, 2029, less than fifty percent,perccnt, then the department shallshexpend expend money from the fund, including money in the account in accordance with subsection (3)(a.5)(II) of this section, as follows:

(g) For fiscal years commencing on or after July 1, 2029,fUPON2029, AWARDINGIf, MONEYUPON ACCORDINGAWARDINGMONEYACCORDINGTOSUBSECTION(3)(f)OFTHISSECTION,the TOdepartment SUBSECTIONdetermines (3)(f)OFthatdoingso THIS SECTION,the departmentdeterminesthatdoingso AWARDINGMONEYPURSUANTTOTHIS SUBSECTIONSUBSECTION(3)(g) (3)(g) would result in a reserve calculation amount equal to fiftyTHIRTY-FIVEfrftyTHIRTY-FIVEpercent percentormore,thenthedepartmentshallexpendmoneyormore,then thedepartment shall expendmoney MAY BE EXPENDED from the fund, including money in the account in accordance with subsection (3)(a.5)(II) of this section by increasingincsing the amounts awarded and distributed from the fund to amounts greater than those described in subsection (3)(f) of this section AWARDING AND DISTRIBUTING AMOUNTS FROMFROMTHE THE FUND AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3)(f)OF(3)(f) THISOFTHISSECTIONANDTHEN SECTIONFUNDINGTHEIMPLEMENTATIONOFTHE ANDSUPPLEMENTALNUTRITIONAL THEN FUNDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMPROGRAMINAMANNERTHAT INSUPPLEMENTSANDDOESNOTSUPPLANTTHESTATE'S AEXPENDITURES,ASOF MANNERJULY1,2025,TOIMPLEMENTTHESUPPLEMENTALNUTRITIONALASSISTANCE THATPROGRAM; SUPPLEMENTS AND DOES NOT SUPPLANT THE STATE 'S EXPENDITURES ,AS OF JULY 1,2025, TOIMPLEMENTTHESUPPLEMENTALNUTRITIONALASSISTANCE PROGRAM ;

OUTREACH RELATED TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMPROGRAM;ANDCOMMUNITY-BASEDNUTRITIONEDUCATION. ;

AND(j) COMMUNITYNOTWITHSTANDINGANYLAWTOTHECONTRARY,MONEY -BASEDINTHE NUTRITIONFUNDSHALLONLY EDUCATIONBE .EXPENDEDFROMTHE FUND INACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTIONS(3)(c) THROUGH(3)(i) OFTHISSECTIONONORAFTERJULY1, 2026.

(j) NOTWITHSTANDINGANY LAWTO THE CONTRARY ,MONEY IN THE FUND SHALL ONLY BE EXPENDED FROM THE FUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTIONS (3)(c)THROUGH (3)(i)OF THIS SECTION ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2026.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsectionsubsection(2) (2) of this section, this act takes effect upon passage.

(2) Section 22-82.9-211 (1)(c), (3)(a) introductory portion, (3)(e) introductory portion, (3)(f) introductory portion, (3)(g), (3)(a)(II), PAGE 6-SENATE BILL 25B-003 (3)(a)(III), (3)(a)(IV), (3)(a)(VI), (3)(a)(VII), (3)(a)(VIII), and (3)(j), ColoradoRevisedStatutes,asamendedandenactedinsection3ofColorado thisact,Revised takeeffectonlyif,attheNovember2025statewideelection,theballotissueStatutes, as amended and enacted in section 3 ofthis act, takeeffect only if,at theNovember2025statewide election, the ballot issue described in section 22-82.9-213, Colorado Revised Statutes, is approved bythepeople,inwhichcasesection22-82.9-211(1)(c),(3)(a)introductorybythe people, in which casesection 22-82.9-211 (1)(c), (3)(a) introductory portion, (3)(e) introductory portion, (3)(f) introductory portion, (3)(g), (3)(a)(II), (3)(a)(III), (3)(a)(IV), (3)(a)(VI), (3)(a)(VII), (3)(a)(VIII), and (3)(j), Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended and enacted in section 3 of thisact,takeeffectonthedateoftheofficialdeclarationofthevotethereonthisact,take effect on the date ofthe official declaration ofthe vote thereon by the governor.

____________________________ ____________________________ James Rashad Coleman, Sr.

Julie McCluskie PRESIDENT OF SPEAKERSP A R OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________ ____________________________ Esther van Mourik 4 7 ((lk Connor Randall SECRETARY OF ACTING CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED________________________________________APPROVED (DateOV)TA-So:101 andR Time),J9 _________________________________________u Jaredsi S.2 0 2D2-S 00- 0:I5.1Y1 Date and Time) JaredS.

PolisPoli GOVERNORGOVERNO OF THE STATE OFF COLORADOOLORADO PAGE 8-SENATE BILL 25B-003