Texas House Bill HB1289

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 11/13/24

Caption

Relating to measures to address student hunger at postsecondary educational institutions.

Impact

The bill would significantly enhance protections and resources for students experiencing food insecurity by promoting practices that directly benefit those enrolled in higher education. It is designed to introduce structures like a Hunger-Free Campus designation for institutions that implement effective hunger solutions. Additionally, it seeks to incentivize cooperation between schools and the Health and Human Services Commission to increase enrollment in SNAP, ensuring that more students have access to essential food resources that support their academic success.

Summary

House Bill 1289 aims to address student hunger within postsecondary educational institutions in Texas. The bill mandates that contracts for food services at these institutions require vendors to seek approval for accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, thereby improving access to nutritional support for students. It establishes a Hunger-Free Campus Program, which will support institutions in implementing sustainable solutions to combat hunger and food insecurity among students. This program will provide guidelines and resources for creating and maintaining food pantries and other assistance initiatives on campus.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support for its focus on student welfare, there may be concerns regarding the financial implications of establishing the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program and the responsibilities it places on institutions. Critics may argue whether additional administrative burdens placed upon educational institutions could detract from their primary mission of education. Additionally, the coordination required across state agencies may pose challenges that could affect the timely implementation of these measures. Stakeholders will need to consider how best to balance the goals of addressing hunger while managing resource allocation efficiently.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

• Chapter 51. Provisions Generally Applicable To Higher Education
  • Section: New Section

• Chapter 61. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  • Section: New Section

Human Resources Code

• Chapter 33. Nutritional Assistance Programs
  • Section: New Section