Bill > SB180

This bill establishes the Universal School Meal Program, which aims to provide two free meals each school day to every student regardless of household income. The legislation prohibits schools from stigmatizing students with meal debt by banning practices such as requiring students to perform chores, wearing identifying markers, discarding served meals, or imposing disciplinary actions due to unpaid meal balances. The bill creates a Universal School Meal Fund with an initial transfer of $360 million from the General Fund and appropriates an additional $25 million to help public school entities discharge existing student meal debt. Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program must provide meals at no cost to students, with a maximum of one free meal per meal service. The bill requires schools to maximize federal reimbursement opportunities and make reasonable efforts to collect household applications for meal assistance. Schools will receive state reimbursement to cover the difference between federal free and paid meal rates, and the Department of Education will develop procedures to administer and monitor the program. The legislation is designed to ensure that no child experiences hunger and that students have the nutrition needed to achieve academic success without experiencing stigma or financial stress related to meal costs.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=180