The bill establishes a "Healthy School Meals for All" program in Rhode Island, aimed at combating food insecurity and promoting healthy eating among students. It mandates that all public elementary schools provide free breakfast and lunch to students starting in the 2026-2027 school year, with a phased expansion to include all public secondary schools by the 2028-2029 school year. The program encourages high participation rates by making meals accessible outside the cafeteria and collaborating with health and wellness committees. Additionally, the bill emphasizes meal quality by adhering to state nutrition requirements, sourcing locally grown food, and involving students and families in menu development. It also includes provisions for public educational entities to report on their use of locally sourced food and outlines a reimbursement mechanism from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to cover the difference between federal reimbursement rates and actual costs.

Key provisions of the bill include the establishment of funding as entitlement dollars, the requirement for local education agencies (LEAs) and eligible schools to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, and the stipulation that failure to participate without a valid exemption will result in the loss of state funding for CEP-related costs. The legislation mandates that the General Assembly allocate separate line items in the budget to ensure that children in state-subsidized early childhood education programs receive free meals. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and aims to maximize access to federal funds to help offset the costs of providing these meals, thereby reducing the financial burden on the state.