Advocacy & Legislation

The No Kid Hungry team works with state agencies and legislators at the local, state and federal level to drive policy change that makes child nutrition programs more accessible and effective. While all federal nutrition programs play an important role in addressing child food insecurity, many of these programs have not been modernized to meet children and families where they are today.

Interested in learning more about childhood hunger in Maryland and what we can do to help more kids get the food they need? Take a look at our policy resources.

Maryland Priorities

Policy Resources

  • Maryland Briefing Book: The Maryland Briefing Book contains county-level child food insecurity rates, information on child nutrition programs, and solutions to end childhood hunger in Maryland.

  • Budget Priorities: In the state budget, there are multiple programs that state officials can invest in to address child hunger and poverty. Click the link to learn more about our policy priorities: Summer EBT, Summer Non-Congregate and Breakfast After the Bell.

Legislation

  • Maryland Meals for Achievement MMFA: No Kid Hungry MD led the passage of amendments for HB386 & SB425 to improve access to healthy school breakfasts after the bell in FY25. This expands options for elementary schools to serve breakfast throughout the school building, including grab-n-go models, giving them the same options as secondary schools.

  • Maryland Meals for Achievement In-Classroom Breakfast Program: No Kid Hungry Maryland led the passage of HB 0514, which increased funding in FY 24 to the Maryland Meals for Achievement In-Classroom Breakfast Program. This successful program creates long-term success by ensuring that students in high-poverty schools start the day with breakfast, ready to learn.

  • Summer SNAP/Summer EBT: By passing HB183/SB213, Maryland stands poised to make a historic investment in 500,000 children by making sure they have enough to eat during the summer when schools are closed. This significant investment will leverage $9 million dollars of state funds to draw down $69 million in federal funds. $60 million will be in direct benefits.

  • Summer EBT:  By passing HB183/SB213, Maryland stands poised to make a historic investment in 500,000 children by making sure they have enough to eat during the summer when schools are closed. No Kid Hungry MD worked closely with state and advocacy partners to help pass HB 183, to establish Summer EBT (Maryland SuN Bucks. This program is designed to serve school age students over the summer months with $40/month per child (up to $120/summer per child) to help with groceries. To qualify, children must be eligible for Medicaid, SNAP or Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS). 

Federal Priorities

No Kid Hungry has several federal policy priorities that we are advocating for at the national level, including

  • Strengthening SNAP
  • Modernizing the Summer Food Service Program
  • Extending benefits of the Community Eligibility Provision

To learn more about these priorities, click here!