S 9565 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to establishing school-based food pantries in schools in the city school district of the city of New York

This bill, known as the New York City School-Based Food Pantry Act, authorizes the establishment of food pantries within high-need schools in New York City to help address student hunger and food insecurity. The program would operate on school premises during designated times, such as before or after school, providing free nutritious food to enrolled students and their families without interfering with instructional time. To ensure successful implementation, the bill mandates partnerships with local food organizations for training and supply coordination, while requiring strict guidelines to protect student dignity, maintain food safety, and prioritize volunteer-led operations. The Chancellor of the Department of Education would be responsible for prioritizing schools with the highest levels of economic need and submitting annual reports on the program's progress to state and city officials.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 25, 2026 Last action Jun 4, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S9565 S9565A · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to broaden its scope from exclusively 'high-need schools' to all schools in the New York City district. It removed the specific funding mechanism involving a redirection of sales tax and replaced detailed operational definitions with a new requirement for the Chancellor to issue guidance on safety, dignity, and volunteer management. The bill also added a new requirement for annual reporting to state and city officials.
Scope change
The bill's applicability expanded from only 'high-need schools' to all schools within the New York City district.
SCOPE

The requirement to establish food pantries was changed from applying only to 'high-need schools' to applying to schools throughout the entire city district.

FISCAL

The specific legislative finding that a portion of the four percent state sales tax on hot foods would fund the initiative was removed.

DEFINITION

The detailed statutory definitions for 'high-need school' and 'school-based food pantry' were removed and replaced with a simplified definition applicable to all city schools.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added for the Chancellor to issue guidance to schools covering food safety, confidentiality, and operational procedures.

ENFORCEMENT

A new requirement was added for the Chancellor to submit an annual report to the Governor, Senate, Assembly, and City Council detailing the program's implementation and reach.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 3, 2026

How they voted

592
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 63
Jun 3, 2026
D Democratic41
39 Yea 2
95% Yea
R Republican22
20 Yea 2 Nay
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Amendments
2
Jun 4, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
lower
Jun 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Jun 3, 2026
Committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
upper
May 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 9565A
upper
May 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jamaal Bailey
Jamaal Bailey
DDemocratic/Working Families
NY
36