Committee adopts amendments to hunger‑free campus grant bill and moves funding decision behind the budget

Senate Bill 172, a measure to create a ‘‘hunger‑free campus’’ classification and a related grant fund, was explained to the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on April 8 and returned to the calendar with amendments adopted.

Sponsor Senator Massey told the committee the bill would allow Tennessee higher‑education institutions to qualify as a “hunger‑free campus” if they establish a physical food pantry (or a partnership with an existing local pantry) accessible to students and create a campus food insecurity task force that includes at least two students. Qualified uses for grant funding include establishing or expanding campus food pantries, creating dining‑hall meal vouchers and other locally tailored food‑insecurity mitigation measures. Massey noted the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) would administer the grant program and that grant awards would be subject to legislative appropriation.

The committee considered and adopted two finance amendments. The first was described as aligning House and Senate language; the second set appropriations language for the relevant fiscal year. After amendments were adopted without recorded roll call totals in the transcript, the sponsor asked — and the committee agreed without objection — to move the bill “behind the budget,” meaning funding would be considered during budget negotiations and the bill’s appropriations would be deferred for the moment.

Why it matters: THEC recently reported roughly 30% of Tennessee higher‑education students self‑report food insecurity; proponents say campus food pantries and meal voucher programs reduce barriers to student success. The bill does not create an immediate appropriation; funding was deferred to the budget process.

Provenance: Sponsor explanation and committee votes, April 8, 2025 committee transcript.