S. 1236 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, 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 only have to provide milk substitutes for students with documented medical needs or disabilities. This bill would change that by requiring all schools in the federal lunch program to offer plant-based milk to every student, no special documentation needed. The plant-based milk would need to meet nutritional standards set by the government.
How it affects you
If you're a student or parent, you'd have more choices at school lunch—plant-based milk would be available to anyone who wants it, not just those with medical reasons. Schools participating in the federal lunch program would need to stock and serve this option alongside regular milk.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, 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 SessionS. 1236
A BILL
FISCAL Act
Sponsor: Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) · 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: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”