Press Release: 5/2/2025

Massachusetts Food Systems Caucus identifies Hunger-Free Campus bill as priority

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

MASSACHUSETTS SENATE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133

Senator Joan B. Lovely

State Senator

2nd Essex District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 29, 2024

Bill would create a grant program to address food insecurity at public colleges and universities

BOSTON—(4/29/2024) Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joan B. Lovely (D–Salem) is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Food System Caucus has chosen S.939, An Act establishing the hunger-free campus initiative, as a priority bill for the 194th legislative session.

The bill would establish the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program managed by the Department of Higher Education in Massachusetts to be allocated to institutions to address food insecurity within public colleges, municipally administered colleges, and minority-serving institutions. 

“It is crucial that our community and state colleges and universities are able to address the food security needs to allow our students to thrive,” said Senator Lovely. “I want to thank my colleagues in the Food System Caucus for throwing their support behind this important bill to combat food insecurity on our college campuses.”

The Food System Caucus, which Senator Lovely is a member of, is a bicameral, bipartisan caucus established to support and grow the local food system in the Commonwealth. The caucus plans to focus its efforts on addressing the three priority areas of food access and food insecurity, farmland, and economic development.