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Bill > SB59

AR SB59

AR SB59
To Provide Each Student With One Breakfast At No Cost Each School Day Upon Request Without Consideration Of The Student's Eligibility For A Federally Funded Free Or Reduced-price Meal; And To Declare An Emergency.

summary

Introduced
01/14/2025
In Committee
02/11/2025
Crossed Over
02/06/2025
Passed
02/17/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
02/24/2025

Introduced Session

95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)

Bill Summary

AN ACT TO PROVIDE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT WITH ONE BREAKFAST AT NO COST DURING EACH SCHOOL DAY UPON HIS OR HER REQUEST WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR A FEDERALLY FUNDED FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEAL; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

AI Summary

This bill aims to provide free breakfast to all public school students in Arkansas, regardless of their eligibility for federally funded free or reduced-price meals, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Each student will be able to receive one breakfast at no cost daily upon request. The bill establishes a new Food Insecurity Fund to help finance this program, using a combination of general revenues, transfers from the General Revenue Fund Account, private grants, and other authorized funds. If federal funds are insufficient to cover the cost, the state will use other authorized funds to ensure students receive their free breakfast. The cost per breakfast will not exceed the reimbursement rate established by the National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act. The bill also requires the Department of Education to certify annual expenses related to eliminating meal charges, and allows the Chief Fiscal Officer to review and adjust funding allocations. An emergency clause is included to emphasize the immediate importance of implementing this program before the upcoming school year, ensuring that school districts can plan and prepare accordingly.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (87)

Jonathan Dismang (R)*,  Zack Gramlich (R)*,  Brandon Achor (R),  Fred Allen (D),  Wade Andrews (R),  Sonia Barker (R),  Glenn Barnes (D),  Lincoln Barnett (D),  Howard Beaty (R),  Mary Bentley (R),  Stan Berry (R),  Justin Boyd (R),  Harlan Breaux (R),  Keith Brooks (R),  Karilyn Brown (R),  Matt Brown (R),  Joey Carr (R),  Fran Cavenaugh (R),  Paul Childress (R),  Nicole Clowney (D),  Andrew Collins (D),  Bruce Cozart (R),  Cindy Crawford (R),  Steve Crowell (R),  Breanne Davis (R),  Tyler Dees (R),  Jim Dotson (R),  James Eaton (R),  Les Eaves (R),  Jane English (R),  Denise Ennett (D),  Brian Evans (R),  Ken Ferguson (D),  Stephanie Flowers (D),  Tony Furman (R),  Denise Garner (D),  Jimmy Gazaway (R),  Ben Gilmore (R),  Diana Gonzales Worthen (D),  Brad Hall (R),  Kim Hammer (R),  Dolly Henley (R),  Bart Hester (R),  Mike Holcomb (R),  Steve Hollowell (R),  Ashley Hudson (D),  Missy Irvin (R),  Lane Jean (R),  Blake Johnson (R),  Mark Johnson (R),  Greg Leding (D),  Fred Love (D),  John Maddox (R),  Steve Magie (D),  Rick McClure (R),  Tippi McCullough (D),  Mark McElroy (R),  Jessie McGruder (D),  Ron McNair (R),  Jon Milligan (R),  Kendra Moore (R),  Reginald Murdock (D),  Stetson Painter (R),  John Payton (R),  Mark Perry (D),  Jim Petty (R),  Aaron Pilkington (R),  Chad Puryear (R),  Terry Rice (R),  Jay Richardson (D),  Scott Richardson (R),  Johnny Rye (R),  Bart Schulz (R),  Jamie Scott (D),  Tara Shephard (D),  Joy Springer (D),  Tracy Steele (D),  Matt Stone (R),  Gary Stubblefield (R),  Dwight Tosh (R),  Clarke Tucker (D),  DeAnn Vaught (R),  Steven Walker (R),  Dave Wallace (R),  Les Warren (R),  David Whitaker (D),  Jim Wooten (R), 

Last Action

Notification that SB59 is now Act 123 (on 02/24/2025)

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