THE BILL ITSELF
SB 534
Hunger-Free Campus Pilot Program
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 534 By Senator Bernard 24-00965-26 2026534__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to the Hunger-Free Campus Pilot
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Program; providing a short title; establishing,
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subject to legislative appropriation, the pilot
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program within the Department of Agriculture and
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Consumer Services for a specified period; providing
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the purpose of the pilot program; defining the terms
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“commissioner” and “department”; requiring the
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Commissioner of Agriculture to identify the three
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state universities or Florida College System
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institutions with the highest percentage of Pell
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Grant-eligible students for participation in the pilot
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program; requiring the commissioner to develop a
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specified survey instrument; providing requirements
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for participating universities and institutions;
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requiring participating universities and institutions
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to submit a report to the department; requiring the
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commissioner to submit a report to the Governor and
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the Legislature by a specified date; specifying
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requirements for the report; authorizing the
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department to adopt rules; requiring the Office of
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Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
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to conduct a study to evaluate food insecurity on the
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campuses of state universities and Florida College
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System institutions; providing requirements for the
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office and the study; requiring the office to submit a
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report to the Legislature by a specified date;
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providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Hunger-Free Campus
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Act.”
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Section 2. (1) Subject to legislative appropriation, the
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Hunger-Free Campus Pilot Program is established within the
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Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to support
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efforts to fight hunger on the campuses of public postsecondary
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educational institutions. The pilot program is established for a
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period of 1 year, beginning July 1, 2026.
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(2) For purposes of this section, the term:
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(a) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Agriculture.
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(b) “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and
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Consumer Services.
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(3)(a) The commissioner shall identify from among all state
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universities and Florida College System institutions the three
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that have the highest percentage of Pell Grant-eligible
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students, which universities or institutions shall participate
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in the pilot program.
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(b) The commissioner shall also develop the survey
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instrument described in subsection (4).
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(4) A participating state university or Florida College
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System institution shall:
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(a) Establish a hunger task force, which must include
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representatives from the student body and meet at least three
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times during the life of the pilot program. The task force shall
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set at least two goals to address hunger on campus, each
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accompanied by an action plan.
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(b) Designate a staff member responsible for assisting
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students with enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition
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Assistance Program (SNAP) as defined in s. 414.456(1), Florida
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Statutes.
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(c) Provide options that enable students to use SNAP
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benefits on campus or provide students with information on
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authorized SNAP retailers in the area surrounding the campus
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where they may use SNAP electronic benefit transfer cards.
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(d) Host an activity or event during Hunger and
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Homelessness Awareness Week to promote awareness of hunger on
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the nation’s campuses.
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(e) Provide at least one physical food pantry on campus or
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enable students to receive food at no cost through a stigma-free
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process. The campus may partner with a local food bank or food
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pantry to comply with this paragraph.
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(f) Develop a student meal credit donation program or
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designate funds that might be raised through such a program for
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free food vouchers.
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(g) Conduct a student survey on hunger, using a survey
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instrument developed by the commissioner, and submit the results
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of the survey and a best practices campus profile to the
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department by a date prescribed by the department for inclusion
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in a comparative profile of each campus designated as a hunger
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free campus.
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(5)(a) Each participating state university or Florida
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College System institution shall submit a report to the
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department, in a manner prescribed by the department, which
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describes how it implemented the pilot program and the program
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results.
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(b) The commissioner shall submit a report on the pilot
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program to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
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Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2028. The
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report must include, but need not be limited to, the impact of
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the program on establishing hunger-free campuses at
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participating state universities or Florida College System
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institutions; the impact of the program on reducing the number
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of students at such universities and institutions who are
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experiencing food insecurity; and recommendations regarding
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future funding and implementation of the program on a long-term
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basis.
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(6) The department may adopt rules to implement the
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program.
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Section 3. (1) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
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Government Accountability (OPPAGA) shall conduct a study to
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evaluate food insecurity on the campuses of state universities
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and Florida College System institutions.
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(2) The study must include recommendations for any changes
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to general law, Board of Governors’ regulations, or State Board
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of Education rules needed to address food insecurity on the
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campuses of state universities and Florida College System
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institutions.
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(3) In conducting the study, OPPAGA shall consult with the
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Board of Governors of the State University System, the board of
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trustees of the Florida College System, the Department of
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Education, and any other relevant stakeholders.
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(4) OPPAGA shall submit a report on its findings to the
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President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
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Representatives by December 1, 2026.
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Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.