PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 28, 2025
Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act
This bill establishes pilot programs for providing 100% plant-based food and milk options in school meals and expands access to nondairy beverages in school meals.
Specifically, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must carry out a pilot program to award grants for purposes such as training food service personnel on serving 100% plant-based food options and covering additional costs of buying plant-based foods. USDA must give priority in awarding pilot program grants to school food authorities that will use the funds to serve a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
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The bill also requires a school participating in the school lunch program to substitute a nondairy beverage that is nutritionally equivalent to fluid milk, and meets USDA-established standards, if the student's parent or legal guardian submits a written request for such substitution. Further, a school has the option to offer each student a nondairy beverage as a substitute for fluid milk if it meets these same standards.
USDA must also establish a pilot program to reimburse eligible schools for the cost of providing a nondairy beverage as a substitute for fluid milk. Eligible schools are those where at least 50% of the students served are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
People & committees
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] · D–NY
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Oct 22, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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