So far, 466 bills have been introduced and the 2025 Colorado legislative session is in full swing. We are still keeping a close eye on key bills that impact our communities. As we head into March, we want to highlight one important bill: HB25-1274, Healthy School Meals for All.

If this title sounds familiar, it’s because this bill builds on the 2022 ballot measure that Colorado voters passed to ensure every student has access to free, nutritious meals at school. HB25-1274 strengthens the program by:

• Increasing support for schools to purchase more Colorado-grown, raised, and processed food, boosting local economies.
  
• Enhancing meal quality by reducing processed foods and increasing fresh ingredients.
  
• Expanding access so that more students benefit and fewer families fall through the cracks.

This bill will head to the ballot!

Under Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), any measure that impacts state revenue and spending must be approved by voters. Because this bill makes adjustments to the funding structure of the Healthy School Meals for All program — including the way excess state revenue is allocated — it requires voter approval in November rather than passing solely through the legislature.

But it won’t increase taxes

The original program is funded by limiting state tax deductions for high-income earners. This bill seeks to send two measures to the ballot — The first would ask to retain excess revenue already generated through Prop FF, rather than refund through TABOR, and the second measure would seek to lower tax deduction limits for individuals earning more than $300,000 a year to add additional revenue to the Healthy School Meals for All Budget.

Our West Slope Youth Voice students will be heading to the Capitol on March 10 to advocate for policies that matter to them, and this bill will be one of the top issues they address with legislators. These young leaders are showing up to ensure that rural students — who often face additional barriers to food security — aren’t left behind.

We’ll keep you posted as this bill moves through the legislature. Sign on to support the bill today!