S. 3669

119 S3669 IS: Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-01-15
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 3669  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   January 15, 2026   Mr. Schiff  (for himself,  Ms. Alsobrooks ,  Mr. Booker , and  Mr. Padilla ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry    A BILL
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a pilot program to award grants to school food authorities to provide 100 percent plant-based food and milk options, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act  .
2.
Plant-based foods in schools
Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1769 ) is amended by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
(d)
Pilot program for 100 percent plant-Based food options
(1)
Definitions
In this subsection:
(A)
100 percent plant-based food option
The term  100 percent plant-based food option  means a breakfast or lunch meal option or component that—
(i)
includes a meat alternate as described in—
(I)
section 210.10 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); or
(II)
appendix A to part 210 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and
(ii)
does not contain any animal product or byproduct, such as meat, poultry, honey, fish, dairy, or eggs.
(B)
Beginning farmer or rancher
The term  beginning farmer or rancher  has the meaning given the term in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a) ).
(C)
Certified organic farm
The term  certified organic farm  has the meaning given the term in section 2103 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 6502 ).
(D)
Eligible school food authority
The term  eligible school food authority  means a school food authority that serves students 50 percent or more of which are eligible for free or reduced price lunch under this Act or free or reduced price breakfast under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ).
(E)
Organically produced
The term  organically produced  has the meaning given the term in section 2103 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 6502 ).
(F)
Producer
The term  producer  has the meaning given the term in section 2103 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 6502 ).
(G)
Program
The term  program  means the pilot program established under paragraph (2).
(H)
Underserved producer
The term  underserved producer  means an individual (including a member of an Indian Tribe) that is—
(i)
a beginning farmer or rancher;
(ii)
a veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279(a) )); or
(iii)
a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (as defined in that section).
(2)
Establishment
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the  Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act , the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible school food authorities to carry out the activities described in paragraph (5).
(3)
Grants
(A)
Term
The term of a grant awarded under the program shall be 3 years.
(B)
Amount
The Secretary shall award grants under the program in diverse amounts to the extent practicable.
(4)
Application
(A)
In general
To be eligible to receive a grant under the program, an eligible school food authority shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—
(i)
a participatory evaluation plan; and
(ii)
a plan for providing culturally appropriate meals.
(B)
Priority
To the maximum extent practicable, in awarding grants under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible school food authority that will use the grant funds—
(i)
to serve a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced price meals;
(ii)
to collaborate with nongovernmental and community-based organizations, agricultural producers, and other community partners with respect to the activities described in paragraph (5);
(iii)
to incorporate experiential and culturally appropriate plant-based food, nutrition, or agricultural education activities related to 100 percent plant-based food options in the classroom;
(iv)
to incorporate organically produced 100 percent plant-based food options; and
(v)
to meet any other criteria that the Secretary determines appropriate.
(5)
Use of funds
A grant awarded under the program may be used for any of the following activities:
(A)
To contract with qualified third parties for professional development training for food service personnel relating to serving (including preparing, procuring, marketing, and creating menus) 100 percent plant-based food options.
(B)
To provide compensation to each employee who participates in the professional development training described in subparagraph (A) at the regular rate of pay of such employee.
(C)
To provide technical assistance and student engagement and education on 100 percent plant-based food options, including providing taste tests, recipe development, and culinary education.
(D)
To provide compensation for additional work relating to serving meals that include a 100 percent plant-based food option.
(E)
To conduct outreach to, and cover costs of procurement of foods from, agricultural producers of 100 percent plant-based food options, including—
(i)
underserved producers;
(ii)
limited resource farmers or ranchers (as defined by the Secretary);
(iii)
producers on a certified organic farm; and
(iv)
local farmers.
(6)
Recordkeeping required
Each eligible school food authority awarded a grant under the program shall keep records of the 100 percent plant-based food options served, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(7)
Reports
(A)
School food authorities
Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant under the program, and annually for the duration of the grant term, an eligible school food authority shall submit to the Secretary a report on the activities carried out using the grant, including information on—
(i)
the number of 100 percent plant-based food options that the eligible school food authority served during the grant period compared with the preceding school year;
(ii)
the number of schools served by the eligible school food authority pursuant to the grant; and
(iii)
the number of students served by the eligible school food authority pursuant to the grant.
(B)
Report by Secretary
With respect to each school year during which the Secretary receives a report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after the date that is the last day of that school year, submit to Congress a report that includes—
(i)
a summary of the reports received during that school year; and
(ii)
such information with respect to the program as the Secretary determines to be relevant.
(8)
Technical assistance
The Secretary shall provide technical assistance and information to assist eligible school food authorities receiving grants under the program—
(A)
to facilitate the coordination and sharing of information and resources that may be applicable to the activities described in paragraph (5); and
(B)
to collect and share information on best practices.
(9)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, to remain available through fiscal year 2030.
 .
3.
Accommodating dietary requirements
Section 9(a)(2) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2) ) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (A)(iii)—
(A)
by inserting  or other medical or special dietary need  after  disability  each place it appears; and
(B)
by striking  or legal guardian  and inserting  legal guardian, or student ;
(2)
by striking subparagraphs (B) and (E);
(3)
by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:
(D)
Pilot program
(i)
Definition of eligible school food authority
In this subparagraph, the term  eligible school food authority  has the meaning given the term in section 18(d)(1).
(ii)
Establishment
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the  Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act , the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible school food authorities to reimburse the full cost incurred by the eligible school food authority of providing nondairy beverages as substitutes for fluid milk under subparagraph (A)(ii).
(iii)
Priority
In awarding grants under this subparagraph, the Secretary may give priority to—
(I)
an eligible school food authority that serves high proportions of students with lactose intolerance; and
(II)
an eligible school food authority that demonstrates, as part of the application for a grant under this subparagraph, a need for nondairy beverages for students served by the eligible school food authority due to dietary reasons.
(iv)
Reports
(I)
Annual report by school food authority
Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant under this subparagraph, and on an annual basis for the duration of the grant, an eligible school food authority shall submit to the Secretary a report on the pilot grant program, including information on—
(aa)
the number of schools and students that were provided nondairy beverages as substitutes for fluid milk under subparagraph (A)(ii) by the eligible school food authority; and
(bb)
in the case of the final report submitted under this subclause, the number of such beverages that the eligible school food authority served during the grant period compared with the number of such beverages that the eligible school food authority served during the school year immediately preceding the start of the grant period.
(II)
Report by the Secretary
Not later than 180 days after the date described in clause (v), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program carried out under this subparagraph, including a summary of the information included in the reports received under this clause from eligible school food authorities.
(v)
Sunset
The authority to carry out this subparagraph shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of the  Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act .
(vi)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subparagraph $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until the date described in clause (v).
(E)
Definition of special dietary need
In this paragraph, the term  special dietary need  means a dietary need that does not constitute a disability, including a dietary need relating to religious or moral conviction.
 .