Through a new law championed by State Senator Ram Villivalam and State Representative Kevin Olickal, Illinois becomes the first state in the nation to require schools to offer halal and kosher food meal options, providing all students with equal access to meals served in schools.

“No student should have to watch their classmates eat a school-provided lunch and be left out because there is not an option that meets their needs,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “This new law ensures everyone has access to food that respects and dignifies their dietary restrictions.”

Senate Bill 457 requires schools to provide halal and kosher food options, as well as University of Illinois hospitals and state correctional facilities, upon request. In public schools, the law requires the Illinois State Board of Education to enter into one or more statewide master contracts with a vendor and give school districts the access to the contract so they can more efficiently provide additional meal options to students, including halal and kosher.

"We are proud to have played a role in this historic legislation that will make Illinois the first state in the nation to require schools to make religious dietary accommodations so that all students have access to nutritious meals,” said Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, director of government relations at Agudath Israel of Illinois.

“I’m incredibly proud that we are honoring students’ diverse dietary requirements with this piece of legislation, which holds the power to create a more inclusive and safe learning environment for students statewide,” said Olickal (D-Chicago). “Ensuring that the state includes religious dietary food options in our school lunch rooms guarantees that all students can enjoy nutritious meals, and no one goes to class hungry.”

"Faith By Plate is an important first step to ensure our children, our incarcerated residents, and our elders and neighbors in state-run hospitals will be better served. This law will fully go into effect only if our state budget includes funding for these meals,” said State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Bridgeview). “I look forward to working with my colleagues to take this to the finish line. Each of us has a right to access foods based on our dietary guidelines."

Villivalam’s law also requires school districts to adopt procedures regarding ordering, preparing and serving prepackaged meal options offered under such statewide contracts that meet state and federal nutritional guidelines for students who request a halal or kosher meal.

"Illinois is a state that values diversity, and addressing religious dietary needs, including kosher and halal meal choices, is a vital public good," said Lonnie Nasatir, president of the Jewish United Fund. "By tackling food insecurity and expanding food choice in schools, the Faith by Plate Act will contribute to making school environments more inclusive, respectful and supportive for all."

“This legislation is at the intersection of a just law, a model state and good business strategy. It is justice to ensure every student, elder and resident of Illinois can access necessary nutrition,” said Dr. Dilara Sayeed, Muslim Civic Coalition president. “With this historic bill, we have developed the template to help other states pass a nutrition law like this, and equally important, our state can potentially become an economic hub for halal/kosher business and distribution.”

Senate Bill 457 was signed into law on Friday and is effective immediately.