WASHINGTON — Pizza, cookies, doughnuts and more could be making a return to Virginia schools, if a bill loosening some nutritional restrictions makes it through the General Assembly.
Two versions of a Republican-sponsored bill have passed both the state’s House of Delegates and the Senate that would allow for foods currently deemed “unhealthy” by federal nutritional guidelines to be sold at school bake sales.
Currently, the law prevents any food not meeting the federal guidelines from being sold on school property during schools hours. Supporters told the Washington Post that this bill would help improve bake-sale proceeds, which have been dwindling since fundraisers switched to a healthier assortment of snacks.
However, opponents say loosening the rules would lead children to make bad food decisions.
The bill was introduced by Del. Richard Bell (R-Staunton) at the request of House Speaker William Howell (R-Stafford). The House’s version of the bill, which passed on a 94-3 vote, would allow schools to have up to 12 school-sponsored bake sales, each lasting five days, to raise money for school activities.
Debate on the matter got lively in the state’s Senate chambers, where the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Ho-Hos were discussed during the debate while members of the Senate enjoyed Key lime pie and cookies from their catered lunch.
Sen. John Edwards (D-Roanoke) spoke against the proposal during the session, but the Richmond paper says other members were holding up the Valentine’s Day goodie baskets his wife prepared and delivered to each senator. He tried to say the baskets were a one-day-a-year thing, but later conceded.
Debate was so lively, senators started polling their pages to get their thoughts on the proposal. The Senate passed its own version of the bill, which expands the number of fundraisers to 30 and eliminated the length restriction of the fundraisers, on a 20-17-1 vote.
Before it can go to Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s desk, the two chambers have to pass the same version of the bill. The House voted against the Senate’s version of the bill and the Senate voted again to send their amended bill back to the House.
If and when the bill passes, it is not totally clear if the governor would sign the bill into law. The First Lady, Dorothy, has been an active supporter of the federal nutritional guidelines.
