US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US Federal House Bill HB739

Introduced
1/24/25  

Caption

Salad Bars in Schools Expansion ActThis bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish and implement a plan, including through a five-year program of competitive grants, to promote the use of salad bars in schools participating in the school lunch program.Priority in the award of grants may be given to entities (i.e., a school or a school food authority) that (1) serve schools in which at least 50% of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, (2) serve schools in food deserts, or (3) provide nutrition education to students. Under the bill, food desert is defined as a census tract with a substantial share of residents who live in low-income areas that have low levels of access to a grocery store or a healthy, affordable food retail outlet.Eligible entities must use the grant funds to award schools a one-time payment for the anticipated cost of installing a salad bar, including the purchase of any required durable equipment.USDA must also submit a report to Congress that includes recommendations for promoting and establishing more salad bars in schools.

Impact

The bill proposes the establishment of a grant program facilitated by the Secretary of Education, offering financial assistance to schools for the installation of salad bars. Priority for these grants would be given to schools predominantly serving low-income families or located in food deserts. This initiative is fundamental as it not only improves students' nutrition but also addresses broader issues of food access and health disparities, particularly in underprivileged communities.

Summary

House Bill 739, known as the Salad Bars in Schools Expansion Act, aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to promote the use of salad bars in schools across the United States. The bill recognizes the concerning statistics regarding childhood obesity and seeks to improve children's eating habits by increasing the availability of fruits and vegetables in school meals. It highlights the importance of nutrients and suggests that salad bars are an effective means of achieving these nutrition goals while facilitating adherence to updated school lunch standards that mandate the inclusion of fruits and vegetables in daily offerings.

Contention

While the bill is largely aimed at enhancing children's health through nutritional improvements, there could be points of contention regarding funding and implementation. The bill does not authorize new appropriations, which may raise concerns about the adequacy of existing funds to meet the demands of the grant program. Additionally, its effectiveness will depend significantly on the willingness of schools and stakeholders to adopt these changes, as well as the support for technical assistance and training to implement salad bars successfully.

Congress_id

119-HR-739

Policy_area

Agriculture and Food

Future_steps

Should this bill pass, it will require schools to actively participate in the proposed program and may lead to subsequent assessments evaluating the impact of salad bars on children's eating habits and health outcomes. Schools will be expected to submit evaluations to the Secretary to help refine the program and potentially build a case for future expansions or funding adjustments.

Introduced_date

2025-01-24

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB1475

Providing breakfast and lunch to all students of participating entities, including school districts, nonpublic schools, and tribal schools, at no cost to the student.

US HB592

Protecting School Milk Choices Act of 2025This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture.Currently, schools participating in the program may provide flavored and unflavored fluid milk and lactose-free fluid milk.Under the bill, these schools must provide students flavored and unflavored fluid milk. These schools maintain the discretion to offer lactose-free fluid milk. 

US SB57

Making Agricultural Products Locally Essential Act or the MAPLE ActThis bill includes maple syrup as one of the eligible foods under the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). As background, the Department of Agriculture's SFMNP provides grants to participating states to provide low-income seniors with coupons/vouchers that may be used at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs to purchase eligible foods (i.e., fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally-grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey).

US HB3121

Establishes the "Missouri Free School Meals Program" to reimburse schools for providing free breakfasts and lunches to all students and a tax deduction for persons or entities that donate to a fund that reimburses schools for free school meals

US HB1271

This bill provides specified funds to the 1890 Scholarships Program for FY2025 and each succeeding year for student scholarships. This National Institute of Food and Agriculture program provides grants to 1890 Institutions (i.e., historically Black colleges and universities that belong to the U.S. land-grant university system) for students who intend to pursue a career in the food and agricultural sciences.The bill also permanently reauthorizes the 1890 Scholarships Program.Further, the bill specifies that student scholarships include scholarships for programs leading to a bachelor or graduate degree. 

US S1083

Requires school meal service providers, when procuring local and regional foods for students, to give purchasing preference to foods produced by in-State farmers and other food producers located within 100 miles of destination school.

US SB487

Creating Hope and Opportunity for Individuals and Communities through Education Act or the CHOICE ActThis bill expands school choice programs for elementary and secondary school students.The bill specifies that a student in the District of Columbia must, in order to qualify for an opportunity scholarship, be currently enrolled, or be enrolled for the next school year, in a public or private elementary or secondary school.The bill also authorizes the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to support the design and implementation of state programs that allow the parent of a child with a disability to choose the appropriate public or private school for their child. It also outlines the requirements for program eligibility.Further, if the state has established a program that allows parents to use public or private funds to assist with the cost of their child attending a private school, then the state may supplement those funds with federal special education funds.Additionally, the Department of Defense must carry out a five-year pilot program to award scholarships to enable military dependent students who live on military installations to attend the public or private elementary or secondary schools their parents choose.The bill also requires ED to return to the Treasury specified amounts made available for salaries and expenses.

US S946

"NJ Healthy Schools Act"; prohibits sale and distribution of ultraprocessed foods in schools participating in federally funded or assisted meal programs.

US S1676

Requires schools with school lunch programs to offer at least one plant-based meal as part of regular lunch service.

US SB377

Students Helping Young Students Act of 2025This bill expands the Federal Work-Study Program to include work-study programs at institutions of higher education that compensate students who are employed in educational after-school, before-school, or nonschool community service activities at public elementary and secondary schools.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.