House Bill No. [insert bill number] establishes a state program aimed at providing replacement funding for school districts that choose to eliminate reduced-price copayments for school lunch and breakfast. The bill emphasizes the importance of adequate nutrition for children's educational potential and recognizes that requiring families to contribute to the cost of meals can hinder participation and create administrative burdens. The program will be administered by the superintendent of public instruction, who will distribute funds to districts that opt to remove these copayments. If the appropriated funds are insufficient, the superintendent may seek additional funding or accept donations to support the program.

The bill includes an appropriation of $600,000 from the state general fund for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, with the intention that this funding becomes part of the ongoing base for future legislative sessions. Additionally, the bill contains provisions for codification and coordination with other legislation, ensuring that if another bill includes an appropriation for the same purpose, the funding section of this act would be void. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.