The bill amends sections 16-8-10 and 16-8-10.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-8, which pertains to federal aid and the Rhode Island Board of Education Act. The amendments include the insertion of language to mandate that all public elementary and secondary schools provide not only type A lunches but also breakfast to students. The bill specifies that these meals, both breakfast and type A lunches, must be free of charge to all students, removing previous language that limited free and reduced-price meals to students from families meeting specific federal and state criteria. The bill also authorizes the department of elementary and secondary education to expand school breakfast and lunch programs, eliminating the previous condition that expansion was dependent on the availability of federal, state, or local funds.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new section, 16-8-10.1, which requires all public schools to offer a free breakfast program that complies with the provisions of § 16-8-10. The bill stipulates that the breakfast meal must meet the rules and regulations adopted by the commissioner and that no charges can be imposed on the student or their family for the breakfast. It also establishes that the state of Rhode Island will provide a per breakfast subsidy to school districts, with the general assembly appropriating funds annually based on the proportion of breakfasts served. The subsidy is intended to support the school food service account and cover expenses related to providing nutritious breakfast meals to students. The act is set to take effect upon passage.