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 define relevant terms and outline the responsibilities of school districts. It requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to implement this program, contingent upon legislative funding. Key changes include the deletion of previous provisions that mandated school districts to charge for breakfast programs and the requirement for only certain districts to provide free breakfast. Instead, all districts will be required to offer eligible breakfast and lunch meals at no cost to students in grades K-12.

Additionally, the bill revises the information that school districts must provide to parents regarding the availability of school meals and allows for the operation of meal programs using offsite food preparation locations. It emphasizes maximizing access to federal funding through participation in programs like the community eligibility provision. The bill aims to enhance student participation in the meal programs and ensure that all students have access to nutritious meals without financial barriers. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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