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Bill > SF58

IA SF58

IA SF58
A bill for an act relating to school lunch and breakfast programs provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

summary

Introduced
01/16/2025
In Committee
01/16/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

This bill relates to school lunch and breakfast programs provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools (schools). For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, the bill requires each school to operate a program under which breakfasts and lunches are served to students in attendance at no charge to the student or the student’s family if the student’s family has a family income that is less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the bill requires each school to operate such a program if the student’s family has a family income that is less than or equal to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2027, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the bill requires each school to operate such a program regardless of the income of the student’s family. The bill appropriates from the general fund of the state to the department of education an amount necessary to make the payments to schools necessary to cover the costs of providing free school lunches and school breakfasts that are not covered by any Act of Congress and appropriated to the state of Iowa for use in connection with school breakfast or lunch programs. The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules to administer these provisions. The bill makes conforming changes. The bill takes effect upon enactment.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a progressive program to provide free school lunches and breakfasts for students based on family income levels across various school types in Iowa. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, schools (including public, charter, and nonpublic schools) must provide free meals to students from families with incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. In the 2026-2027 fiscal year, this threshold increases to 400% of the federal poverty level. Starting in the 2027-2028 fiscal year, all students will receive free school lunches and breakfasts regardless of family income. The state will appropriate funds from the general fund to cover the costs of these meals not already covered by federal funding. Schools are required to serve nutritionally adequate meals, and the state board of education will develop rules to implement this program. The bill amends existing education code to require charter schools, innovation zone schools, and accredited nonpublic schools to comply with these new meal program requirements. The legislation takes effect immediately upon enactment, reflecting its perceived urgency in addressing student nutrition needs across Iowa.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (15)

Last Action

Subcommittee: Rozenboom, Evans, and Winckler. S.J. 151. (on 01/28/2025)

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