Washington HB 2369: Limiting the transfer of moneys in nonappropriated funds and accounts.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to promoting the use of local foods in public 1
schools; amending RCW 28A.235.180 and 15.64.060; adding new sections 2
to chapter 28A.235 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; 3
and creating a new section.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.235 6
RCW to read as follows:7
(1)(a) The Washington local food for schools program is created 8
in the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the 9
purpose of facilitating increased procurement and distribution of 10
Washington grown foods to school food authorities via the United 11
States department of agriculture foods distribution system of the 12
office of the superintendent of public instruction.13
(b) School food authorities participating in the national school 14
lunch program and the United States department of agriculture foods 15
program may participate in the Washington local food for schools 16
program, but participation is voluntary unless otherwise required by 17
state or federal law.18
(2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this 19
specific purpose, the Washington local food for schools program must:20
H-2781.1
HOUSE BILL 2369
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Reeves, Ramel, Reed, Kloba, Scott, Duerr, Doglio,
Stonier, Berg, Fosse, Salahuddin, Thai, and Bernbaum
Prefiled 01/09/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Education.
p. 1 HB 2369

(a) Establish a local foods catalog of unprocessed or minimally 1
processed Washington grown items that are appropriate for school 2
meals and aligned with the federal buy American provision and other 3
federal requirements;4
(b) Offer ordering windows through the existing United States 5
department of agriculture foods system; and6
(c) Coordinate storage and distribution within the United States 7
department of agriculture foods network to minimize administrative 8
and logistical burdens for school food authorities and vendors.9
(3) Procurements for the Washington local food for schools 10
program must be made in accordance with chapter 39.26 RCW and 11
applicable federal child nutrition and commodity procurement 12
requirements, including provisions for competitive solicitation, 13
preferences, and small purchase methods.14
(4) The Washington local food for schools program shall apply 15
geographic or Washington grown preferences, consistent with federal 16
guidance permitting use of "local" as a specification and geographic 17
preference, for unprocessed agricultural products.18
(5) For purposes of this section, the following definitions 19
apply:20
(a) "School food authority" means a school district participating 21
in the national school lunch program under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1751 et 22
seq.;23
(b) "United States department of agriculture foods" means foods 24
purchased by the United States department of agriculture and provided 25
to eligible school food authorities through the distribution system 26
administered by the office of superintendent of public instruction; 27
and28
(c) "Washington grown" has the same meaning as in RCW 15.64.060.29
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 30
RCW to read as follows:31
The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall 32
collaborate with the Washington state department of agriculture, the 33
department of enterprise services, the department of health, and 34
Washington State University to support the Washington local food for 35
schools program created in section 1 of this act and Washington's 36
farm-to-school initiatives by:37
p. 2 HB 2369

(1) Developing uniform procurement procedures, materials, and 1
practical recommendations for school food authorities as defined in 2
section 1 of this act;3
(2) Providing technical assistance to local vendors regarding 4
contracting, certification, food safety, and distribution 5
requirements; and6
(3) Improving distribution infrastructure to enable centralized 7
aggregation and delivery of local products across United States 8
department of agriculture child nutrition programs.9
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.235 10
RCW to read as follows:11
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction may 12
receive gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources 13
that are made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use 14
and benefit of the Washington local food for schools program created 15
in section 1 of this act, and spend gifts, grants, or endowments or 16
income from the public or private sources according to their terms.17
(2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall 18
endeavor to leverage available federal funds, including commodity 19
entitlement and cooperative agreements, to supplement and sustain the 20
Washington local food for schools program.21
Sec. 4. RCW 28A.235.180 and 2025 c 314 s 11 are each amended to 22