Tennessee Legislature Restores $7M for Summer Child Food Program
State lawmakers override Gov. Bill Lee’s rejection of federal program that previously fed 700,000 children during summer months.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — Tennessee lawmakers approved a $58.3 billion state budget Thursday that restores $7 million in funding for a federal summer food program that previously fed 700,000 low-income children before Governor Bill Lee rejected participation in 2024.
The restored funding will allow Tennessee to rejoin the Summer EBT program, which distributes federal dollars to families with children during summer months when school is not in session. The program previously brought $84 million in federal funding to Tennessee families.
Bipartisan Support for Child Nutrition
The appropriation drew rare bipartisan support during an otherwise contentious budget debate. Representative Michael Hale, a Republican from Smithfield, shared personal experiences of his family’s financial struggles during his childhood, when he had to sell a milking cow he had raised to help his parents afford food.
“We’ll be able to help 700,000 kids that will pull $90 million of federal dollars into the state of Tennessee. I can’t say thank you enough,” Hale said, calling the legislation “personal to me.”
Representative Bo Mitchell, a Nashville Democrat, also praised the funding but criticized Governor Lee’s previous decision to opt out of the federal program. Mitchell said Lee’s choice left children in his district without access to summer food aid.
Timing and Alternative Programs
The restored funding comes too late for the upcoming summer season. Instead, a smaller pilot program launched by Lee will provide $3 million for food distribution to children this summer. Last year, that limited program reached 18,000 children in select counties, according to the Tennessee Lookout.
Lee, whose second term ends early next year, originally rejected the federal Summer EBT program in 2024, leaving Tennessee as one of the states that did not participate in the initiative designed to combat child hunger during summer months.
Federal Program Details
The Summer EBT program provides electronic benefit transfer cards to eligible families, allowing them to purchase food for their children when school meals are not available. The $7 million state allocation will cover administrative costs required for Tennessee’s participation in the federal program.
The budget approval represents a significant policy reversal from the governor’s stance and demonstrates legislative willingness to override executive decisions on child welfare programs. The funding will take effect in the next budget year, positioning Tennessee to resume full participation in the federal summer nutrition program.
