Education, Higher - As introduced, establishes the hunger-free campus grant program; provides grants to higher education institutions to address student hunger. - Amends TCA Title 49.

SB 172 creates a state grant program to help Tennessee colleges address student hunger. It requires participating higher education institutions (public universities, community colleges, and accredited private schools in Tennessee) to establish campus food pantries or partner with existing ones, form student-inclusive hunger task forces, and submit annual reports on their efforts. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission will administer the program using funds from a new dedicated grant fund (composed of state appropriations and donations). Grants can be used for student meal credit programs, meal vouchers, or supporting food pantries, but the bill specifies no funding is allocated until the legislature appropriates it in the annual budget.