Massachusetts Shows Commitment to Solving Hunger Through Policy

Heading into the 2021-2022 state legislative session, we knew there was an unprecedented need to address food insecurity, and to encourage policymakers to address this problem in the short, medium, and long term. While there is still a lot to do, we are proud of the accomplishments achieved this session by our team, our partners, and advocates like you.

In January 2021, our allies Senator Sal DiDomenico and Representative Andy Vargas filed An Act Relative to Universal School Meals which would create a permanent School Meals for All Policy in Massachusetts. The Feed Kids Coalition, convened to support this campaign, grew to over 120 members and secured co-sponsorship support from over half of the legislature, 110 Senators and Representatives in total. While the bill did not pass this session, the legislature included $110 million in its Fiscal Year 2023 budget to cover the cost of School Meals for All during the 2022-2023 school year.

Our legislative allies also passed An Act Promoting Student Nutrition to address both the root causes of unpaid meal debt as well as the impacts this debt has on students. Many of the schools eligible for the federal Community Eligibility Provision must now consider it and schools are prohibited from meal debt collection practices that involve or penalize a student.

For years, advocates have been calling on the state to create a Common Application that would allow households and individuals in need to apply for assistance programs with a single application, instead of the current system that requires filling out multiple forms and applying to several state agencies, all while repeatedly providing the same or similar information. This policy is now law and will be implemented by the Healey/Driscoll Administration. Once launched, households will be able to apply for MassHealth, SNAP, and other benefits all at once, helping ensure fewer people fall through the gaps.

The Legislature approved $13 million and $12 million for the Healthy Incentive Program (HIP) in Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023, respectively. This represents a significant increase in support for this program first launched in 2017 and a recognition of its success in supporting the local food economy and increasing the purchasing power of households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

While passage of An Act establishing the Massachusetts Hunger-Free Campus Initiative is still necessary, the legislature appropriated $3.74 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the issue of college student food insecurity.