Appropriations Committee Moves Forward Bill to Reduce Child Hunger with Unanimous Support

Colorado on path to become one of the first states in the nation to implement new federal Summer EBT Program

DENVER, CO – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously passed Senators Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Jeff Bridges’, D-Arapahoe County, legislation to take advantage of the federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program and provide students with nutrition assistance during summer break. 

Under SB23B-002, Colorado children will receive an estimated $35 million to help their families purchase groceries while school is out for summer – a time when child hunger typically spikes. The Summer EBT benefits can be used to purchase food from SNAP retailers. Families will receive $40 a month per eligible child for the summer benefit in 2024, to be adjusted for inflation in following years.

“Far too many Colorado children, through no fault of their own, face nutritional challenges every day,” said Zenzinger. “The hunger becomes exacerbated in the summer when they are not in school and they don’t have access to free and reduced meals. We owe it to those children to leverage any resources we can on their behalf, and these federal funds provide a step in the right direction.”

“More hungry kids getting more food is a good thing, full stop," Bridges said. "This bipartisan legislation will allow us to lead the nation in giving 300,000 kids meals during their summer break from school, with the federal government paying the bill. More food for more Colorado kids at almost no cost to Coloradans. What’s not to love?”

The Summer EBT Program was established in December 2022 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, with the program beginning in the summer of 2024. By taking action now, Colorado is a national leader on this issue. Ten other states indicated to the U.S. Department of Agriculture that they intend to do so next year, which would postpone their program’s start until 2025. 

SB23B-002 now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration. Follow the bill’s progress HERE.