Bills › 91st General Assembly
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 provisions
Sponsored by the Senate Agriculture Committee
Topics:AgricultureK–12 education
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 19, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 19, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 4, 2025
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 19, 202560–36
- 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 student nutrition, including by modifying the curricula provided to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 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 through 12, and modifying provisions related to school meal programs. The bill requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to provide instruction related to nutrition to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12.
Read the full explanation
The 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 through 12.14, which requires the department of education (DE) to, within days after the effective date of the bill, apply for a waiver under federal law to request an exemption from certain limits and requirements 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. The 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 bill establishes requirements related to these guidelines and persons with whom DE is required to consult during the process of updating the guidelines. Also, 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.14 requires DE to submit an annual report to the general assembly that describes the impact of the guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal, including information 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 the waiver is granted.14 also requires DE to conduct an evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal compared to the comparable federal standards within five years after the effective date of the waiver, if the waiver is granted.14 takes effect upon enactment.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendment H-1122; see Amendments. Full bill text
Senate subcommittee
Named January 27, 2026 (as SSB 1158). 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
Fiscal note
Cost: up to $455,000 Compare with other bills
0 FTE positions in year one and by $455,000 each year thereafter. In addition, there may be a reduction to federal reimbursement to school districts for the school lunch and breakfast programs as following currently established federal meal patterns is required to receive federal meal reimbursement.
- School Meals, Nutritional Requirements, Waivers · March 20, 2025
- School Meals, Nutritional Requirements, Waivers · March 18, 2025
- School Meals, Nutritional Requirements, Waivers · March 18, 2025
Nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is first. Reading a fiscal note
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§283A.14
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
4 for · 7 against · 16 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.
Study bill
91st General Assembly
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