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 for education. It mandates that all public elementary and secondary schools provide free breakfast and federally reimbursable lunches to students through the USDA’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The language changes include the insertion of "Mandatory school lunch programs" and "Mandatory school breakfast programs," emphasizing the requirement for schools to offer these meals. Additionally, the bill removes the previous stipulation that free meals were only available to families meeting specific criteria, now stating that all students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals will receive these benefits.

Furthermore, the state of Rhode Island is tasked with providing additional funding to cover the difference between federal reimbursement rates for free and reduced-price meals. The bill also allows for the expansion of breakfast and lunch programs through food preparation centers to ensure more economical meal delivery. The act is set to take effect upon passage, reinforcing the commitment to providing nutritious meals to all public school students.