H.R. 2539 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Education and Workforce, Apr 1, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySchools must offer plant-based milk options
Right now, schools in the National School Lunch Program can only give students non-dairy milk if a doctor says they need it for medical or dietary reasons. This bill would change that by requiring all schools to offer plant-based milk to every student, without needing a doctor's note. The plant-based milk would have to meet nutrition standards set by the USDA or match the government's dietary guidelines.
How it affects you
If you're a student in a school lunch program, you'd have a plant-based milk choice available at lunch alongside regular milk, whether or not you have a medical reason for needing it. School cafeteria staff would need to add this option to their food service without the previous documentation requirements.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Apr 1, 2025)
Freedom in School Cafeterias and Lunches Act or the FISCAL Act
This bill revises requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to require that schools offer plant-based milk.
Under current law, schools must provide a substitute for fluid milk for students whose disability restricts their diet (on receipt of a written statement from a licensed physician). Schools may also substitute a nondairy beverage for fluid milk for students who have an identified medical or other special dietary need (on receipt of a written statement from a medical authority or a student's parent or legal guardian).
The bill eliminates the exceptions and documentation requirements. Instead, schools participating in the school lunch program must offer all students a plant-based milk option that is consistent with (1) the most recent U.S. Dietary Guidelines, or (2) USDA-established nutritional standards if the milk is not included under those guidelines.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 2539
A BILL
FISCAL Act
Sponsor: Rep. Troy A. Carter (D-LA-2) · Introduced Apr 1, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 1, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.”