Proposed Bill No. 5008, introduced in the February Session of 2024, aims to allocate funds to the Department of Education to support school nutrition programs. Specifically, the bill proposes an appropriation of sixteen million dollars from the General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. This funding is intended to cover the costs of providing breakfast at no charge to students in schools that participate in the school breakfast program, as well as lunch at no cost to students who are eligible for reduced-price meals in schools that take part in the national school lunch program.

The purpose of the bill is to ensure that the school food authorities are reimbursed for the difference between the federal reimbursement rate for reduced-price and fully-paid meals provided through the school breakfast and lunch programs. By doing so, the bill seeks to alleviate the financial burden on schools and families, ensuring that all students have access to nutritious meals during the school day without cost being a barrier.