Sponsors (4)
The bill directs steady federal funding to expand local food in school meals and support farmers and program capacity, at the cost of new federal spending, extra administrative requirements, possible higher procurement costs, and uneven per-student funding across states.
Schools and students in participating districts will receive more local, minimally processed foods in school meals, improving access to fresher options for children.
Local farmers and food producers near participating schools (same State or within 400 miles) can increase sales and stable demand from school contracts.
The bill provides stable, dedicated annual funding ($200 million authorized) to support local procurement and school food distribution nationwide, giving programs predictable resources.
Taxpayers will fund $200 million per year for the program, increasing federal spending and potentially crowding out other priorities.
Limiting purchases to 'local foods' (same State or within 400 miles) could raise procurement costs or complicate supply chains for some schools, potentially reducing meal quality or increasing costs per meal.
School food authorities may face additional administrative and reporting burdens to comply with procurement, local sourcing, and public reporting requirements.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a USDA program awarding cooperative agreements to local governments to buy and distribute local foods to schools, with up to 5% for training, certification, oversight, and admin.
Official title: To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Local Foods for Healthy Schools Program.
Introduced June 25, 2026 by Kristen McDonald Rivet · Last progress June 25, 2026
Creates a USDA program to give noncompetitive cooperative agreements to eligible units of government so they can buy locally produced food from covered producers and get that food to schools in their area. Grants may be used only to purchase or distribute local foods, with up to 5% of each award available for training, food-safety certification, state oversight/reporting, and administration. Requires applicants to submit a plan naming a lead agency, community partners (including aggregators), proposed uses, and a demonstration of intent to buy a wide variety of local foods; requires intra-state coordination and assurances that federal funds will supplement, not supplant, existing state support. Directs USDA to set an allocation formula that includes an equal per-State allotment (capped at 30% of total funds) and further distribution rules (details for remaining distribution are to be specified by the Secretary).