RI 2026 H7793: Education - Federal Aid

Plain-English Summary

This bill creates the "Healthy school meals for all" program. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, public elementary schools must provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. This requirement expands to middle schools in 2028-2029 and high schools in 2029-2030. Schools must maximize federal funding options, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will reimburse the difference between federal aid and the free meal rate. The bill also encourages using locally grown food, scratch cooking, and providing at least twenty minutes for lunch.

For younger readers

This new law changes how school lunch works. Starting in a few years, schools will give breakfast and lunch to every student for free. You won't have to pay money or have an account. It starts with elementary schools and then adds middle and high schools later. The schools will also try to buy food grown nearby and cook meals from scratch instead of just heating them up. The state government will pay the schools back for the cost of the food so that it is free for everyone.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Public school studentsParents and guardiansSchool food service workersLocal farmers and food producersSchool administrators

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Ensures universal access to nutrition for all students, eliminating the stigma often associated with means-tested free or reduced lunch programs.
Directly combats food insecurity and child hunger, which are linked to poor learning outcomes and behavioral issues, thereby promoting equity in education.
Encourages the use of locally grown products and scratch-cooked meals, supporting local agriculture and providing healthier food options for children.
Allocates state funds to subsidize meals for students from wealthy families who can afford to pay, potentially diverting resources from more targeted social welfare programs.
Delays implementation until the 2027-2028 school year, failing to address the immediate food insecurity needs of current students.
Relies heavily on federal reimbursement rates which may not keep pace with the actual costs of providing high-quality, locally sourced, and culturally relevant meals.

For Conservatives

Supports local businesses and the state economy by encouraging schools to purchase locally grown and produced food items.
Reduces administrative overhead for schools by potentially eliminating the complex bureaucracy of collecting lunch money and managing student debt.
Ensures that tax dollars already spent on education are maximized by ensuring students are physically nourished and capable of focusing on instruction.
Increases the burden on taxpayers by creating a universal entitlement program that subsidizes meals for families who are financially capable of feeding their own children.
Expands the size of state government by mandating a new full-time employee position and requiring permanent line-item appropriations.
Imposes state-level mandates on local school districts regarding lunch duration and food sourcing, infringing on local control of school operations.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 71 additions

SECTION 1. Findings. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(1) Globally, diet-related chronic diseases are the leading cause of death;

(2) In 2024, almost forty percent (40%) of Rhode Island households with children were food insecure,

(3) Student hunger is associated with poor learning outcomes, absenteeism, and behavioral issues;

(4) Healthy school meals are associated with improved test scores;

(5) Many children consume one-third (1/3) to one-half (1/2) of their daily calories during the school day;

(6) The 2012 nutrition standards for school meals (Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, 77 Fed. Reg. 4088 [Jan. 26, 2012]) and 2016 nutrition standards for competitive foods (National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program - Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School as Required by the Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act of 2010, 81 Feb. Reg. 50131 [July 29, 2016]) promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture were estimated to save up to seven hundred ninety-two million dollars ($792,000,000) in healthcare related costs over ten (10) years, prevent more than two million (2,000,000) cases of childhood obesity, and reduce the risk of obesity by half among low-income students over five (5) years;

(7) It is in the best interests of the people of the state to provide that all students have access to a healthy and nutritious school breakfast and lunch during the school day.

SECTION 2. Chapter 16-8 of the General Laws entitled "Federal Aid [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 16-8-16. "Healthy school meals for all" -- School breakfast and lunch programs.

(a) The healthy school meals for all program will be phased in over three (3) years. Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, all public elementary schools shall be required to make breakfasts and lunches available to elementary students attending those schools. Beginning in the 2028-2029 school year, all public elementary and secondary schools shall be required to make breakfast and lunches available to elementary and middle school (through grade 8) students attending those schools. Beginning in the 2029-2030 school year, all public elementary and secondary schools shall be required to make breakfasts and lunches available to elementary, middle and high school students attending those schools in accordance with rules and regulations as set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture and adopted by the department of elementary and secondary education pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section.

(1) Schools that participate in the School Breakfast Program authorized under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. § 1773) and National School Lunch Program authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. § 1751 et seq.) shall provide breakfast and lunch without charge to all enrolled, attending students, every school day.

(b) In operating its school breakfast and lunch program pursuant to this section, each public educational entity shall seek to achieve the highest level of student participation, which may include any or all of the following:

(1) Providing breakfast meals that can be picked up by students for consumption outside the cafeteria;

(2) Making breakfast available to students in the classroom after the start of the school day;

(3) Collaborating with the entity’s health and wellness subcommittee, as established under § 16-21-28, in planning school meals; and

(4) Providing lunch periods of no less than twenty (20) minutes for students to be seated and consume their lunch.

(c) In operating its school breakfast and lunch program, each public educational entity shall seek to maximize access to federal funds for the cost of the school breakfast and lunch program by participating in one of the following options:

(1) National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Provision 2 Guidance as promulgated by United State Department of Agriculture (USDA);

(2) The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) promulgated by the USDA; or

(3) Any other federal provision that, in the opinion of the department of elementary and secondary education, draws down the most possible federal funding for meals served in that program, including the active dissemination and collection of meal benefit applications, as applicable.

(d) In operating its school breakfast and lunch program, each public educational entity shall seek to improve meal quality by:

(1) Complying with all state-specific nutrition requirements related to meals and snacks served as part of the school day;

(2) Purchasing, to the maximum extent possible, locally grown/produced food items, as defined by the department of elementary and secondary education;

(3) Freshly preparing scratch-cooked foods; and

(4) Providing culturally relevant meals and engaging student and family voices in menu development.

(e) No less frequently than quarterly, each public educational entity shall report to the department of elementary and secondary education data related to the purchasing of locally grown/produced food items as referenced in this section and used in the operation of its school breakfast and lunch program. Specific reporting requirements, including data points and format, shall be determined and communicated by the department annually.

(f) The department of elementary and secondary education shall reimburse the public educational entities described in and operating in accordance with the provisions and requirements of this section, the difference between:

(1) The federal free reimbursement rate established annually by the United States Department of Agriculture for school breakfast and for school lunch; and

(2) The federal reimbursement rate received for each school breakfast and school lunch served.

(g) The department of elementary and secondary education shall adopt rules and regulations necessary for making reimbursements pursuant to this section.

(h) For each fiscal year, the general assembly shall make an appropriation by separate line item in the budget to allow school food authorities to provide breakfasts and lunches at no charge for children in state-subsidized early childhood education programs administered by public educational entities or in kindergarten through grade twelve (k-12), participating in the school lunch or breakfast program who would otherwise be required to pay for meals under these programs. The appropriation to the department of elementary and secondary education shall be considered entitlement dollars and shall be adjusted as necessary to meet the needs of the program on an on- going basis, without disruption.

(i) In addition to the funding required to reimburse public educational entities as described in this section, each fiscal year the general assembly shall make an appropriation by separate line item in the budget to support the cost of one full-time equivalent employee at the department of elementary and secondary education to aid in the administration and implementation of this program.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2027.