The proposed legislation establishes a "healthy school meals for all" program in Rhode Island, aimed at providing universal breakfast and lunch to all public school students. The program will be phased in over three years, beginning in the 2027-2028 school year with all public elementary schools required to make breakfasts and lunches available to elementary students. In the 2028-2029 school year, the program will expand to include all public elementary and secondary schools, providing meals to elementary and middle school students. By the 2029-2030 school year, all public elementary and secondary schools will be required to offer breakfasts and lunches to all students, including high school students.

Schools participating in the program will be required to provide meals at no charge to all enrolled students every school day. The legislation encourages public educational entities to maximize student participation through various strategies, such as 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 at least twenty minutes for students.

Additionally, the legislation mandates that public educational entities seek to maximize access to federal funds for the cost of the school breakfast and lunch program by participating in federal programs. It also requires entities to improve meal quality by complying with state-specific nutrition requirements, purchasing locally grown food items, freshly preparing scratch-cooked foods, and providing culturally relevant meals.

Public educational entities must report quarterly on their use of locally grown food items in their school meal programs. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will reimburse these entities for the difference between the federal free reimbursement rate and the federal reimbursement rate received for each meal served. The General Assembly will make annual appropriations to support the program, ensuring that all students, including those in state-subsidized early childhood education programs, receive free meals. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2027.