HB 7

This bill provides that, subject to the appropriation of funds by the general assembly, there is created a hunger-free campus grant program to provide grants to higher education institutions to be used to address hunger on the institutions' campuses, whic h will be administered by the Tennessee higher education commission. As used in this bill, a " higher education institution"" means (i) an institution operated by the board of trustees of the University of Tennessee, the board of regents of the state univ er sity and community college system, or a local governing board of trustees of a state university; or (ii) a private postsecondary institution accredited by a regional accrediting association that has its primary campus domiciled in this state. HUNGER-FREE CAMPUS GRANT FUND This bill creates a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the hunger-free campus grant fund, which will be composed of (i) funds specifically appropriated by the general assembly for the grant fund; and (ii) gifts, grants, and other donati ons received for the grant fund. HUNGER-FREE CAMPUS GRANT In order to be eligible for a grant, this bill requires a higher education institution to do all of the following:  Submit an application to the commission on a form prescribed by the commission, along with any supporting documentation required by the commission  Have or establish a physical food pantry that is accessible to students; or partner with a food pantry that is accessible to students and located in one or more counties where the higher education institution maintains a campus where students reside or attend in-person courses  Establish a hunger task force that includes at least two members of the institution's student body to examine the needs and best practices of food insecurity on campus This bill requires the commission to establish a formal process and deadline for receiving a higher education institution's application and authorizes the commission to develop and implement additional policies and procedures for the approval of grant ap plications. This bill requires a higher education institution that is awarded a grant to use grant proceeds to (i) develop a student meal credit donation program; allocate funding for a meal voucher program for students; or provide financial assistance to a food pan try above; and (ii) raise awareness of community and campus resources related to food insecurity. REPORT This bill requires a higher education institution that is awarded a grant to, for each year for which the institution receives a grant, study and submit a report to the education committee of the senate and the education administration committee of the h ouse of representatives on the institution's efforts to address food insecurity, the demographics of the institution's food-insecure students, the best practices being implemented by the institution to address campus hunger, and other data related to camp us hunger at the institution. ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #3 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 172, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 changes the house committee to which a higher education institution that is awarded a hunger-free campus grant must, for each year for which the institution receives a grant, submit a report on the institution's efforts to address food insecurity, the demographics of the institution's food-insecure students, the best practices being implemented by the institution to ad dress campus hunger, and other data related to campus hunger at the institution from the education administration committee of the house of representatives to the committee of the house of representatives having jurisdiction over education . AMENDMENT #3 r eplaces language stating that this bill does not appropriate funds with a statement of legislative intent that the general appropriations act does not include an appropriation of funds for the hunger-free campus grant program for fiscal year 2025-2026, 2026-2027, or 2027-2028."