Thriving Community Gardens Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5255
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-18T04:23:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Thriving Community Gardens Act (H.R. 5255) aims to promote student health and well-being by expanding the allowable uses of federal education grants to include the creation and upkeep of school and community gardens. It amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to integrate gardening activities into programs that support safe and healthy students.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Grant Uses: Updates the law to explicitly allow Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants to fund the development and maintenance of school or community gardens as part of efforts to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. This includes nutritional education and physical activities, potentially led by school health professionals.
- Information Collection: Requires the Secretary of Education to regularly gather data from local educational agencies (LEAs, which are school districts or similar entities) that use these grants for community gardens.
- Best Practices Development: Directs the Secretary to analyze collected data and identify effective strategies (best practices) for establishing and maintaining such gardens.
- Publication and Updates: Mandates that the Department of Education publish these best practices on a public website and update them periodically based on ongoing input from LEAs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands section 4108(5)(C)(ii) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by adding a new subclause (II) that permits funding for school or community gardens. Previously, this section focused on nutritional education and physical activities but did not specifically mention gardens.
- Introduces new administrative requirements for the Department of Education, including data collection, best practices identification, and public dissemination, which were not previously outlined for this type of activity.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education will face additional responsibilities for data collection, analysis, and website maintenance, potentially increasing administrative workload but also providing resources to support evidence-based educational programs.
- On Citizens: Students and communities may benefit from improved access to gardens, which could enhance nutritional education, physical activity, and overall health. Schools in underserved areas might see more equitable opportunities for hands-on learning about healthy living.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic education policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Local Educational Agencies (LEAs): School districts that receive and administer the grants; they will have new funding options and must report usage for gardens.
- Students and Schools: Primary beneficiaries through expanded health and educational programs.
- Communities: Local groups involved in or benefiting from community gardens, promoting broader public health initiatives.
- Department of Education: Responsible for oversight, data collection, and sharing best practices.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the framework for flexible use of federal education funds under existing grant programs without creating new funding streams, ensuring compliance with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. No challenges to federal authority over education funding are introduced.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, by directing federal funds toward public welfare (health and education) without infringing on state or local control of schools.
- Political: Supports bipartisan interests in child health, nutrition, and environmental education; could encourage similar initiatives in agriculture or sustainability policies, though it remains a modest, targeted amendment with limited controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-09-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Thriving Community Gardens Act — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (3 pages)