No Vending Machines in Elementary Schools: OR HB 2023

Debates have ensued regarding soda and food vending machines in elementary, middle/junior and high schools. Some states have introduced and enacted legislation to replace existing food and drinks of minimal nutritional value for healthier options or to restrict student access to the machines. As of January 2004, Arkansas is the only state that has passed legislation banning vending machines in elementary schools. This is not just a state issue, however. Some cities and local schools districts have taken the lead and enacted policies to ban or replace certain foods and beverages in vending machines or restrict student access to the machines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2000 survey concluded that 43% of elementary schools, 89.4% of middle/junior high and 98.2% of senior high schools had either a vending machine or a school store, canteen, or snack bar where students could purchase competitive foods or beverages.

Oregon House Bill (HB) 2023 would prohibit the school district board from contracting with vendors to sell food or beverages via vending machines that do not meet the standards of the UDSA national school lunch and breakfast programs. If a school does not have students in grade 5 or below, the board may contract with a vendor to sell items that do not meet the standards if the access to the machines is limited to after the last regularly scheduled lunch period for the school.

2004 National Conference of State Legislatures