Education panel backs measure to send 2025 ballot measures on Healthy School Meals for All to finance committee

The Colorado House Education Committee voted 7-5 to advance House Bill 1274 as amended, a bill that would send two ballot measures to voters in 2025 aimed at preserving and expanding the Healthy School Meals for All program created by Proposition FF in 2022.

Representative Serena Garcia Sander, the bill sponsor, told the committee the program has provided millions of meals and saved families roughly $1,300 per child per year, but that changing federal reimbursement rates, faster-than-expected district opt-ins and high food inflation have created a funding shortfall that threatens the full implementation of Prop FF. The bill would: (1) ask voters to retain state funds originally tapped for Prop FF; and (2) ask voters to authorize an additional revenue measure that could raise up to $95 million by adjusting itemized deduction limits for higher-income taxpayers, with no change for taxpayers earning under $300,000, Garcia Sander said.

Supporters who testified included school nutrition directors, the American Heart Association, Hunger Free Colorado, farmers and labor representatives. They said universal school meals reduce hunger and stigma, boost attendance and test scores, increase demand for local food procurement and place excessive new workload and wage pressure on often low-paid school nutrition workers. Dan Sharp, a school nutrition director from Mesa County, said his district has seen a 40% increase in meals served since the program began, and Hardy Provisions CEO Roberto Meza said local sourcing returned substantial revenue to Colorado farmers.

Opponents and cautious observers raised concerns about cost, program design and waste. Testimony also included requests from nutrition directors that any wage support be structured as stipends rather than direct mandation, and that meal service continue while grant programs are phased in. The sponsor introduced and the committee adopted an amendment (L1) correcting refund projections to 12.4 percent and moving certain timing details, and adopted a technical amendment that adjusted the ballot-timing language and funding mechanics in response to drafting and JBC feedback.

Committee members debated fiscal and implementation trade-offs. Supporters stressed long-term stability and a reserve fund that would be created if voters approve the second measure, while some members urged caution because of broader state revenue pressures. Representative Bacon moved the bill to the Finance Committee with a favorable recommendation; the motion passed 7-5.

The bill advances the question of whether Coloradans will be asked to sustain and expand universal school meals through voter approval of retention and additional revenue measures later in 2025.