A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning higher education and to make an
appropriation.
HB 1154 establishes a new Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program within Indiana Code to help state educational institutions address student food insecurity. The bill directs the Commission for Higher Education to administer a competitive grant program and a related grant fund, with grants available to institutions that have at least one campus designated as a “hunger-free campus.” The program is intended to support student hunger relief, basic-needs services, awareness of available resources, and partnerships at the local, state, and national levels.
To qualify for designation, a campus must meet a set of operational requirements. These include creating a hunger task force with student representation, appointing staff to help students with SNAP enrollment information, improving access to SNAP-eligible food options, holding awareness activities during national hunger and homelessness awareness week, providing a food pantry or stigma-free food access arrangement, offering meal-credit donation or food voucher options, and conducting biannual student hunger surveys. The commission must also prioritize institutions with higher Pell Grant participation when awarding grants, and recipients must report how funds are used and what outcomes result.
The bill adds a new chapter to Title 21 governing higher education and creates a dedicated grant fund for hunger-free campus initiatives. It authorizes the Commission for Higher Education to administer the program, adopt rules, award grants, and publish comparative campus profiles based on survey results. The bill also includes appropriations: $250,000 from the state general fund for FY 2026-2027, plus transfers of $100,000 and $150,000 from commission funds in later fiscal years, with unspent money remaining available rather than reverting to the general fund. State educational institutions that participate would need to meet the campus criteria and submit reports to remain eligible for funding.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive and policy-oriented, focused on expanding student basic-needs support rather than on controversy. The bill’s structure suggests a practical, implementation-driven approach, with reporting requirements and a sunset-style funding schedule to evaluate effectiveness before considering an ongoing appropriation. No formal opposition or recorded floor/committee debate is included in the provided context.
The main potential points of contention are fiscal and administrative. The bill requires new appropriations and transfers from commission funds, which could raise questions about budget priorities and whether the program should become an annual appropriation. Institutions may also view the campus designation requirements as administratively burdensome, since they must create task forces, run surveys, maintain food access programs, and report outcomes. Another possible issue is equity in grant distribution, because the commission must prioritize campuses with larger Pell Grant populations, which may be seen as targeting need but could also be debated by institutions with different student demographics.