Updates

Healthy Plates, Happy Students: The Scoop on HB-1274

April 29, 2025

UPDATE 4/29/25: The House passed legislation sponsored by Representative Lorena García that would refer two ballot measures to Colorado voters regarding the continuation of the Healthy School Meals for All program. HB25-1274 passed by a vote of 40-22.

House Bill 1274, recently passed by the Colorado House this April, was introduced by the General Assembly to strengthen and expand funding for the state’s Healthy School Meals for All program, ensuring more students have access to nutritious, no-cost meals. This initiative, established following the voter-approved Proposition FF in 2022, provides free, nutritious meals to all public school students. The bill proposes two ballot measures for the November 2025 election to address funding challenges and enhance program sustainability.​

Broken up into three ballot measures, HB-1274 sets out to reform how excess revenue is handled for high-income earners and tax deductions:

Ballot Measure 1: Retention of Excess Revenue

The first measure seeks voter approval to allow the state to retain $26.3 million in revenue that exceeds the estimates provided in the Proposition FF ballot information booklet. Under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), such excess revenue would typically be refunded. If approved, the state would maintain current income tax deduction limits for high-income earners, ensuring continued funding for the meal program. If rejected, the state would refund the $26.3 million to individuals with federal taxable incomes of $300,000 or more who claimed significant deductions, and the deduction limits would be adjusted accordingly.​

Ballot Measure 2: Additional Funding Through Tax Deduction Adjustments

The second measure proposes increasing state revenue by $95 million annually by further limiting income tax deductions for individuals earning $300,000 or more. The standard and itemized deduction limits would be reduced to $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for joint filers. The additional revenue would be allocated to the Healthy School Meals for All program, supporting its expansion and sustainability. If voters reject this measure, the proposed deduction limits would not be implemented.​

Beyond funding adjustments, HB25-1274 includes provisions to enhance the meal program’s effectiveness and community involvement:​

Local Food Purchasing Grants: Modifications to grant distribution aim to support small and medium-sized farms and ranches, promoting the use of Colorado-grown, raised, or processed products in school meals.​

Advisory Committees: The bill encourages the formation of advisory committees comprising students and parents to provide input on meal selections, ensuring cultural relevance and appeal.​

Wage Increases for Food Service Workers: Funds may be allocated to increase wages or provide stipends for school food service employees directly involved in meal preparation and service.​

Technical Assistance and Education Grants: Additional grants would support training and education related to local food procurement and meal preparation.​