Substitute House Bill No. 5537 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 evaluate the necessary funding, identify possible funding sources—including the potential for a dedicated tax or fee—and outline the parameters for the program's establishment and fund disbursement. The group will consist of key stakeholders, including chairpersons of relevant legislative committees, representatives from public schools and education boards, public health or nutrition experts, and other necessary individuals appointed by the committee chairpersons.

The bill mandates that the working group submit a report detailing its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2027. The group will be chaired by the chairpersons of the finance, revenue, and bonding committee, and its administrative staff will be provided by the same committee. The bill does not impose any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as it is expected that the working group will utilize existing resources to conduct its study. 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.