The bill proposes the establishment of a universal free school breakfast and lunch program for all public school students in Florida, amending existing statutes to reflect this initiative. It requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to implement the program, contingent upon legislative funding. The bill specifies that school districts must provide eligible breakfast and lunch meals at no cost to all students in grades K-12, replacing previous provisions that mandated only certain districts to offer breakfast programs and allowed for charging students. Additionally, the bill revises the information that school districts must communicate to parents regarding the availability of these meals and allows for offsite food preparation locations to facilitate the program.

Key changes in the bill include the introduction of definitions for terms such as "community eligibility provision" and "universal school breakfast and lunch program," which clarify the scope and requirements of the initiative. The bill deletes previous requirements for school districts to set meal prices and encourages participation in federal programs to maximize funding. It also mandates that school districts provide information about free meal availability to parents and allows for flexibility in food preparation and distribution methods. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 119 Filed: 595.402, 595.405, 595.404