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FISCAL Act

4/15/2025, 4:23 AM

Summary of Bill S 1236

Bill 119 s 1236, also known as the "Milk Variety in Schools Act," aims to make changes to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The main purpose of this bill is to require schools participating in the school lunch program to offer a variety of milk options to students.

Currently, many schools only offer one type of milk, typically low-fat or fat-free milk, to students during lunch. This bill seeks to expand the options available to students by requiring schools to offer a variety of milk choices, such as whole milk, flavored milk, and lactose-free milk.

The goal of this legislation is to provide students with more choices when it comes to their milk consumption, as well as to ensure that students with dietary restrictions or preferences have access to milk options that meet their needs. By offering a variety of milk options, schools can better cater to the diverse needs and preferences of their student population. In addition to requiring schools to offer a variety of milk options, the bill also includes provisions for other purposes related to the school lunch program. These additional purposes are not specified in the summary provided, but may include provisions related to nutrition standards, food safety, or other aspects of the school lunch program. Overall, the Milk Variety in Schools Act aims to improve the school lunch program by providing students with a wider range of milk choices and ensuring that schools are meeting the diverse needs of their student population.

Congressional Summary of S 1236

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.

Current Status of Bill S 1236

Bill S 1236 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since April 1, 2025. Bill S 1236 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the Senate on April 1, 2025.  Bill S 1236's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. as of April 1, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 1236

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
1
Republican Sponsors
0
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
2
Democrat Cosponsors
1
Republican Cosponsors
1
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 1236

Primary Policy Focus

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 1236

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.
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.

Comments

Elias Meadows profile image

Elias Meadows

679

10 months ago

I can't believe this new bill is going to pass. It's going to have a huge impact on our economy and I'm not sure how we're going to recover from it. Who is going to be affected by this?

Hallie Pace profile image

Hallie Pace

644

10 months ago

This bill is so dumb, like why are they even passing it? It's gonna mess everything up, I can't even deal with it. SMH.

Uriel Chase profile image

Uriel Chase

613

10 months ago

Hey y'all, have y'all heard about this new bill? It sounds like it could really help out a lot of folks. I wonder who will benefit from it. #UnitedStatesSBill1236FISCALAct #politics #benefits