ALBANY, NY – A bipartisan group of New York lawmakers is backing new legislation that would guarantee free breakfast and lunch for every K-12 student in the state, regardless of income.
Assembly Bill A282, sponsored by Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas and co-sponsored by more than 80 lawmakers across party lines, would require all public school districts, charter schools, and participating non-public schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to students through the federal school meal programs. The measure mirrors Senate Bill S594, advancing simultaneously in the upper chamber.
The proposal would amend state education law by adding Section 915-a, mandating that schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program provide meals to all students free of charge. Supporters say the bill builds on the success of federal child nutrition initiatives expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and addresses growing food insecurity across the state.
- All students would receive free breakfast and lunch under the bill
- Measure targets food insecurity affecting more than 280,000 students statewide
- Sponsors say the plan promotes equity and supports academic performance
In the bill’s memorandum, lawmakers cited rising food costs and the expiration of pandemic-era meal waivers that had temporarily made all school meals free. As of December 2024, more than 600 schools and 280,000 New York students had lost access to free breakfast and lunch. The bill’s supporters argue that access to consistent, healthy meals improves student well-being and academic success, particularly in rural districts that struggle to qualify for the federal Community Eligibility Provision.
The legislation carries no direct fiscal estimate yet but is expected to leverage existing federal nutrition programs while providing state funding to fill coverage gaps. If enacted, the “Universal School Meals” act would take effect immediately.