Universal Free School Meals and Elimination of Meal Debt for All Children.
This Act mandates free breakfast and lunch for all children enrolled in participating schools, regardless of family income. It immediately prohibits schools from collecting existing meal debt and establishes a program to reimburse schools for all outstanding delinquent charges. The goal is to ensure universal access to nutritious food and protect children from meal shaming and stigma.
Key points
All school breakfasts and lunches will be provided free of charge to every enrolled student.
Schools are immediately prohibited from collecting debt for unpaid meals and will be reimbursed by the government for existing delinquent debt.
The bill includes incentives (additional payments) for schools to use locally-sourced farm products in their meals.
Protections are established to prevent discrimination or shaming of children related to meal participation or debt.
Expired
Citizen Poll