Food Insecurity Among College Students: An Analysis of US State Legislation Through 2020

Many US college students experience food insecurity (FI). Given most students are excluded from receiving federal nutrition assistance, additional efforts are needed to alleviate student FI. This perspective discusses proposed and enacted state statutes, resolutions, and bills addressing college FI to date, which range in depth, breadth, and success. Overall, states have demonstrated their promising role in addressing FI; however, college FI promises to be a continuing challenge, particularly given continued widespread unemployment that began with the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 and the global struggle for economic recovery.

Automated summary

Many US college students face food insecurity and are excluded from federal nutrition assistance. States have proposed various statutes, resolutions, and bills to address college food insecurity, showing their potential in tackling the issue. However, the challenge of college food insecurity is likely to persist, especially in the face of the ongoing economic struggles from the COVID-19 pandemic.