Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis ·
Freedom in School Cafeterias and Lunches Act or the FISCAL Act This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to require that schools offer plant-based milk. Under current law, schools must provide a substitute for fluid milk for students whose disability restricts their diet (on receipt of a written statement from a licensed physician). Schools may also substitute a nondairy beverage for fluid milk for students who have an identified medical or other special dietary need (on receipt of a written statement from a medical authority or a student's parent or legal guardian). The bill eliminates the exceptions and documentation requirements. Instead, schools participating in the school lunch program must offer all students a plant-based milk option that is consistent with (1) the most recent U.S. Dietary Guidelines, or (2) USDA-established nutritional standards if the milk is not included under those guidelines.
Market Impact Map
Action Timeline
2025-04-01
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
2025-04-01
Introduced in Senate
Full Bill Text
119 S1236 IS: Freedom in School Cafeterias and Lunches Act U.S. Senate 2025-04-01 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 1st Session S. 1236 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 1 (legislative day, March 31), 2025 Mr. Fetterman (for himself, Mr. Kennedy , and Mr. Booker ) 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 require schools to offer a variety of milk to students participating in the school lunch program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Freedom in School Cafeterias and Lunches Act or the FISCAL Act . 2. Types of milk offered under the school lunch program (a) In general Section 9(a)(2) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2) ) is amended— (1) in the heading, by striking Fluid milk and inserting Milk ; (2) in subparagraph (A)— (A) in clause (i)— (i) by striking fluid milk. Such milk and inserting milk, including fluid milk and plant-based milk, which ; (ii) by inserting or, in the case of a plant-based milk not included under those guidelines, consistent with nutritional standards established by the Secretary after ( 7 U.S.C. 5341 ) ; and (iii) by inserting and after the semicolon; (B) in clause (ii), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and (C) by striking clause (iii); (3) by striking subparagraph (B); (4) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B); and (5) in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting or plant-based milk after fluid milk . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 14(f) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1762a(f) ) is amended, in the third sentence, by inserting or plant-based before milk . (2) Section 20(c) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1769b(c) ) is amended by striking fluid .
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