The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5214 aims to enhance access to school meals by mandating that, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, each eligible school district in Connecticut must provide free school breakfasts to all students and free school lunches to those eligible for free or reduced-priced lunches. The bill defines "eligible school district" as local or regional boards of education, state or local charter schools, or interdistrict magnet school operators that participate in the federal School Breakfast Program or the National Lunch Program but do not implement the Community Eligibility Provision. Additionally, these districts will be eligible to receive grants from the Department of Education to support the provision of these meals.

The bill will take effect on July 1, 2026, and introduces new legal language to current statutes regarding school meal provisions. It specifically inserts provisions for free meals while deleting previous language that may have restricted such access. The overall purpose of the bill is to ensure that all students in the state have access to nutritious meals, thereby promoting better health and educational outcomes.