This bill establishes new requirements for school lunch and breakfast programs across various educational institutions, including school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in Iowa. It mandates that for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, these schools must provide free meals to students from families with incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. The threshold increases to 400% for the following fiscal year, and starting July 1, 2027, all students will be eligible for free meals regardless of family income. The bill also includes provisions for appropriating necessary funds from the state’s general fund to cover the costs of these programs.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to ensure compliance with the new requirements, including specific insertions that require schools to operate breakfast and lunch programs in accordance with section 283A.6. It also makes conforming changes to existing statutes regarding the operation of these programs in nonpublic schools. The state board of education is tasked with adopting rules to administer these provisions, and the bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256E.7, 283A.6, 283A.10