The Universal Free School Meals Amendment Act of 2025 aims to provide free breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks to all students in public, charter, and participating private schools in the District of Columbia, starting from the 2025-2026 school year. This legislation seeks to eliminate the need for consideration of students' eligibility for federally funded free or reduced-price meals, thereby ensuring that all students have access to nutritious meals. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) will be responsible for reimbursing schools for meals provided to students who do not qualify for federal assistance, while also ensuring that schools continue to receive federal reimbursements for eligible meals.

The bill includes provisions for OSSE to provide training to school staff on the implementation of universal free school meals and allows OSSE to issue rules for this section. The fiscal impact statement indicates that the cost of implementing this program is expected to be lower than previous estimates due to recent changes in federal funding provisions. This initiative is positioned as a response to food insecurity among children in the District, particularly among Black and Latinx households, and aims to reduce the stigma associated with receiving free or reduced-price meals.