The bill, designated as Substitute House Bill No. 7273, establishes a working group tasked with studying potential funding methods for a universal free school meals program aimed at providing free breakfasts and lunches to all public school students. The working group will assess the necessary funding amounts, explore various funding sources—including the possibility of a dedicated tax or fee—and evaluate the parameters for implementing the program and distributing funds. The group will consist of key stakeholders, including chairpersons of relevant legislative committees, representatives from public schools and education boards, and public health or nutrition experts.

The working group is required to convene its first meeting within sixty days of the bill's passage and must submit a report detailing its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2026. The bill does not impose any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as it is primarily focused on the study and recommendations rather than immediate implementation of the program. The new legal language introduced in this bill includes the establishment of the working group and its operational guidelines, while no existing legal language is deleted.