The proposed legislation establishes a statewide "Healthy School Meals for All" program in Rhode Island, aimed at providing universal access to free breakfast and lunch for all public school students. The program will be phased in over three years, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year with all public elementary schools required to make breakfasts and lunches available to elementary students. In the 2027-2028 school year, the program will expand to include all public middle schools (through grade 8), and by the 2028-2029 school year, it will extend to all public secondary schools, ensuring that breakfasts and lunches are available to all students.

Participating schools will be mandated to provide meals without charge to all enrolled students every school day. The bill encourages public educational entities to maximize student participation through various strategies, including providing breakfast meals that can be picked up for consumption outside the cafeteria, making breakfast available in classrooms, collaborating with health and wellness subcommittees, and ensuring lunch periods of no less than twenty minutes for students.

The legislation also requires public educational entities to seek federal funding to support the program by participating in federal programs such as the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and the Community Eligibility Provision. Additionally, schools are tasked with improving meal quality by complying with state-specific nutrition requirements, purchasing locally grown food items, freshly preparing meals, and engaging students and families in menu development.

Public educational entities must report quarterly to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on their purchasing of locally grown food items. The Department will reimburse these entities for the difference between the federal free reimbursement rate and the federal reimbursement rate received for each meal served. The bill mandates annual appropriations by the General Assembly to support the program and to fund a full-time equivalent employee at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to aid in its administration and implementation. This act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.