House Bill 2024-1301, with a focus on time to eat and play in Colorado public schools, did not advance, along with 74 other bills, during the 2024 state legislative session, which concluded last week. There are several reasons for this, including the late scheduling of its first committee hearing, costs attached to the bill, and some feedback from key stakeholders during the legislative process.
What does this mean for future efforts? While the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger and Nourish Colorado are disappointed in the outcome, both organizations will continue to advocate for time-to-eat policies across the state.
Together, we plan to create our own opportunities to evaluate best practices and policies, which will kick off this summer with ample options for network input. Regardless if this results in future state legislation or another form of policy, both organizations remain committed to taking the learnings from the 2024 session forward and making this a reality in the future.
We thank everyone who supported and advocated for HB24-1301 – and look forward to more collective action to ensure students have enough time to eat! If you’re interested in staying engaged, please sign up for time-to-eat policy and advocacy updates.
