Governor Spencer Cox Signs Beloved Food Security Bill to Strengthen Community Resources

SALT LAKE CITY — Tyler Clancy, a state representative for Provo, has a heartfelt story that drives his passion for change. As a police officer, he once took a young girl to school. During the ride, she started crying because she had missed breakfast and faced hours without food until lunch.

“Seeing her in that situation really affected me,” Clancy recalled. Moments like these fueled his desire to make a difference. He is now behind a new law, known as HB100, aimed at increasing the number of K-12 students in Utah who can access free school lunches. The goal is to help kids avoid embarrassment and reduce food waste in schools.

Utah’s school lunch debt stands at about $2.8 million. According to data from Feeding America, over 113,000 children in the state struggle to get enough food daily. With the recent law, an additional 40,000 students will benefit from free meals who previously only received reduced-price options.

Clancy believes that HB100 could pave the way for lasting solutions to food insecurity in the state. He hopes this initiative will do more than just help individual children; it aims to support families and communities for years to come.

Food insecurity is not just a local issue. In the U.S., one in six children faces hunger, with many families lacking consistent access to nutritious food. This reality emphasizes the importance of legislative actions like HB100, which seek to close the gap and provide essential resources for all children.

Governor Spencer Cox praised the bill, calling it one of his favorites from the 2025 legislative session. As more states recognize the importance of addressing child hunger, similar movements may gain momentum nationwide. By spotlighting these issues, leaders like Clancy urge us all to consider how we can contribute to a more equitable future for every child.

For more insights on food insecurity and its effects on education, check out this Feeding America report.

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