NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville, has introduced legislation to ensure Tennessee is able to participate in the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (SEBT) program, a federal nutrition assistance program that provides grocery benefits to eligible families with school-aged children during the summer months.
House Bill 1835 would require the Tennessee Department of Human Services to apply for and accept available federal funding to participate in the SEBT program, ensuring continuity of nutrition assistance for eligible students. The program would be available in addition to the state’s Summer Food Service Program, administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services which also works to ensure children and teens have access to nutritious meals when school is out in the summer.
“Food insecurity looks different from one community to another, and addressing it requires a tailored approach,” said Hale. “Limited food access, particularly in rural communities, creates unique barriers for families, and this bill allows Tennessee to respond more effectively to those challenges. With federal funding available, this is a practical way to ensure children who rely on school meals are able to easily access support during the summer months. This bill ensures Tennessee is prepared to participate when the opportunity exists, helping eligible families meet basic needs when school meals are not provided.”
More than 650,000 Tennessee students participate annually in the federally funded program, which provides $120 in grocery assistance in the summer, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
House Bill 1835 will be heard in the Health Subcommittee in the coming weeks. If passed, the bill would take effect July 1.
Rep. Michael Hale represents District 40, which includes Cannon, DeKalb, Jackson, Smith, and part of Wilson counties.
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