A federal program to provide summer food aid to 700,000 low-income Tennessee children still needs funding and final state approval.
Lawmakers have unanimously advanced House Bill 1835, which would allow children to participate in Summer EBT and help families of students who receive free or reduced-price school meals.
Signe Anderson, senior director of nutrition advocacy with the Tennessee Justice Center, said the bill has strong bipartisan support, but as it nears final passage, some legislators remain cautious about the program's cost.
"DHS has reported that it will cost more than it has cost in the past," said Anderson, "which is somewhat surprising given the fiscal notes from other states and the work that DHS put into it to make it more cost-effective."
House Bill 1835 goes before the Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tuesday.
Anderson said Summer EBT would fight child hunger and boost Tennessee’s economy. In 2024, the program brought in $84 million, which was quickly spent at grocery stores and farmers’ markets to help families and local businesses.
Anderson said Summer EBT provides $40 per child per month for food assistance when kids are out of school. She pointed out that Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee didn't approve the state's participation in the program this year, and opted out of the food program last year.
Instead, Lee launched a state-funded alternative program that provides a $120 one-time payment directly to families.
She explained that the governor's Tennessee Summer Nutrition Initiative reached only 18,000 in 15 counties at a cost of $3 million.
"It was limited to just the children who participate in SNAP and TANF," said Anderson. "It didn't even reach the kids who really struggled during the summer, and those are the kids and families who fall into that donut hole where they aren't eligible for SNAP."
Anderson said many Tennessee kids have few food options in the summer. The state offers the Summer Food Service Program, emergency food through food banks, and non‑congregate food boxes, but they reach only a small number of children.
A national report shows Tennessee’s Summer Meal Program serves about 60,000 kids, just a fraction of those who could benefit from expanded programs like Summer EBT.
Source: Public News Service
