Olivia M. Thompson, PhD, MPH: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: The study objectives were to 1) summarize universal free school meal policies enacted at the state level and 2) determine the focus or priority reflected within each policy.
Methods: Bills enacted at the state level were located electronically on state legislature websites (e.g., https://www.nmlegis.gov). Study authors (OT and KD) reviewed each bill along with any supplementary material and completed content policy analyses to identify patterns, themes, and key concepts pertaining to universal free school meal policies.
Results: California was the first state in the nation to pass universal school meals legislation. Both breakfast and lunch are provided for students in grades K-12 at all public and charter schools, regardless of ability to pay. Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, Colorado began offering public schools the option to provide universal free breakfasts and lunches to K-12 students. Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, Maine, Minnesota, and New Mexico required that public schools provide universal free breakfasts and lunches to K-12 students. In August 2023, Massachusetts enacted permanent universal free school meal legislation to be funded by a new 4% tax on the state’s wealthiest residents. In July 2023, Michigan appropriated state funds for universal free school meals for the 2023-2024 school year and earmarked additional funds ($160 million) for future years. In June 2023, Vermont enacted permanent universal free school meal legislation to be funded by a new 0.03% property tax increase. Twenty-eight additional states are currently planning or in the process of drafting universal school meals legislation.
Conclusions: While 8 states have enacted and 28 states have considered universal free school meal policies, the following states have not yet initiated meaningful if any planning: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. States with enacted policies have prioritized child health as a long-term investment, and importantly, as a strategy to reduce or eliminate child food insecurity and hunger while at the same time boosting the local food economy.
