Local Foods for Healthy Schools Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 9474

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-07-08T19:30:11Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The legislation amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to create the Local Foods for Healthy Schools Program. The program aims to increase the purchase of locally produced foods by schools through cooperative agreements between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state-level government units.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary of Agriculture must establish the program and enter into noncompetitive cooperative agreements with eligible state agencies (such as those handling agriculture, child nutrition, or food distribution).
• Funds support the purchase of local foods from covered producers (farmers, ranchers, processors, or distributors within a state, 400-mile radius, or other approved criteria) and their distribution to participating schools.
• Eligible state units may use up to 5% of funds for training, technical assistance, food safety certifications, oversight, and administration; the remainder must go directly to food purchases.
• States must submit plans showing how funds will be used, ensure wide variety of local foods, and confirm that program funds supplement—not replace—existing state support for school meals.
• An allocation formula provides equal base funding to each state, with remaining funds distributed proportionally based on the number of students in school lunch and breakfast programs; unspent funds may be reallocated.
• Annual mandatory funding of $200 million comes from the Commodity Credit Corporation, with an additional $200 million authorized each year.
• Recipients must submit reports on expenditures, producers, and foods purchased, which are then made public.
• Definitions clarify “local foods” (minimally processed agricultural products meeting geographic criteria), “school food authority,” and other terms.

Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill adds a new Section 210B to Subtitle A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. It introduces a dedicated, ongoing funding stream and a new cooperative agreement mechanism focused specifically on local foods for schools, separate from existing USDA child nutrition programs.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: Increases responsibilities for the USDA (program administration and funding allocation) and designated state agencies (plan development, fund distribution, reporting, and coordination).
• Citizens and schools: Provides additional resources for schools to obtain local foods, potentially benefiting students through greater variety in meals; may reduce administrative burdens on school food authorities by allowing direct distribution or fund transfers.
• Producers and local economies: Offers new market opportunities for farmers and food businesses within defined geographic areas.
• No direct effects on international relations are specified.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• State agencies responsible for agriculture, child nutrition, procurement, or food distribution.
• School food authorities and individual schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.
• Covered producers (local farmers, ranchers, processors, and distributors).
• Community partners, such as aggregators, that assist with implementation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The use of mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation represents a direct spending authority that bypasses annual appropriations for the core program amount. The noncompetitive nature of the agreements and the emphasis on state-level coordination may raise questions about administrative efficiency and oversight, though the bill requires public reporting to address transparency. The geographic limits on “local foods” and producers are defined flexibly to accommodate state proposals.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2026-06-25: Introduced in House
• 2026-06-25: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Local Foods for Healthy Schools Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-25 — PDF (10 pages)