Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the federal summer electronic benefits transfer for children program (SUN bucks), making an appropriation, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions
Sponsored by Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (D)
Topics:State budget
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 17, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 18, 2025
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to the summer electronic benefits transfer (EBT) for children program, also known as the SUN bucks program, made permanent by federal law under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, administered by the United States department of agriculture (USDA) food and nutrition service. The bill includes findings relating to food insecurity in the state including that it is estimated that approximately 240,000 children would be eligible to receive benefits under the SUN bucks program; that when Iowans are struggling financially, they are more likely to buy less expensive foods, high in calories and low in nutritional value; and that the SUN bucks program would provide an estimated $29 million to address the food insecurity crisis which not only feeds children but stimulates local economic activity.
Read the full explanation
Upon the effective date of the bill, the department of health and human services (HHS), in coordination with the department of education, shall immediately submit a letter of intent to apply for and participate in the SUN bucks program during summer 2025, to coordinate with the USDA to develop a successful management and administration plan for the SUN bucks program, and to submit the plan to the USDA by April 1, 2025. The bill appropriates from the general fund of the state to HHS for fiscal year 2024-2025 a sufficient amount to cover the costs of administering the SUN bucks program during summer 2025. The bill takes effect upon enactment and is retroactively applicable to July 1, 2024.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named February 18, 2025. It hasn’t reported yet.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Lobbying
5 for · 0 against · 1 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Tried before
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 2140 Relating to the federal summer electronic benefits transfer for children program, making a…90th General Assembly · In committee · very similarCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 152 Relating to the federal summer electronic benefits transfer for children program, making a…91st General Assembly · In committeeVery similar
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.