The 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. It requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to implement this program, contingent upon legislative funding. The bill removes previous provisions that mandated school districts to charge for breakfast programs and limits the implementation of universal free breakfast to certain districts. Instead, it mandates that all public schools provide free breakfast and lunch to students in grades K-12, ensuring compliance with federal nutritional standards.

Additionally, the bill revises the requirements for school districts, including participation in federal programs and maximizing access to federal funding. It emphasizes the importance of providing information to parents about the availability of free meals and allows for the operation of meal programs from offsite locations. The effective date for the implementation of this act is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 1098 Filed: 595.402, 595.405, 595.404