This bill establishes a universal free school breakfast and lunch program for all public school students in Florida, amending existing statutes to define relevant terms and outline the responsibilities of school districts. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is tasked with creating and operating this program, contingent upon legislative funding. Key changes include the deletion of previous requirements for school districts to charge students for breakfast and the removal of provisions that limited the universal breakfast program to certain districts. Instead, all districts are now required to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to students in grades K-12, ensuring compliance with federal nutritional standards.

Additionally, the bill revises the information that school districts must communicate to parents regarding the availability of free meals and allows for the operation of meal programs using offsite food preparation locations. It emphasizes maximizing federal funding through participation in programs like the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs and the community eligibility provision. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, promoting increased access to nutritious meals for all students regardless of their household income.

Statutes affected:
S 74 Filed: 595.402, 595.405, 595.404