Bill > SB01217

This bill mandates that all local and regional boards of education in Connecticut shall establish and operate school lunch and breakfast programs, and they are now required (rather than just permitted) to provide free meals to all students, effective July 1, 2025. The legislation removes previous provisions that allowed charging for meals and eliminated language about charging based on economic need. School boards are authorized to purchase necessary equipment, employ personnel, use volunteers, and accept gifts or donations to support these feeding programs. The State Board of Education will be required to provide annual grants to support these programs, including matching federal funding requirements and providing at least ten cents per lunch served in the prior school year. Boards must certify that they meet nutrition standards established by the Department of Education, and the Commissioner of Education is given flexibility to modify requirements in response to federal law changes or waivers from the United States Department of Agriculture. The key goal is to ensure that all students, regardless of economic background, receive free school meals.

Budget and Finance, Education

Committee on Children

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB01217&which_year=2025