This bill seeks to improve student access to free meals in public schools, ensuring that no student experiences hunger while attending school. It introduces a new section affirming the legislature's intent to provide meals at no charge to all requesting students and amends existing laws, including RCW 28A.235.135, which governs free meal provisions, while repealing RCW 28A.235.260. The bill also reenacts and amends RCW 28A.150.260 to allocate state funding for school districts to support basic education. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, all school districts will be required to provide free breakfast and lunch to any student who requests these meals, regardless of their eligibility for federally reimbursed programs.

Additionally, the bill establishes a statewide electronic repository for household income information to streamline the certification process for free meals, allowing eligible students to be directly certified without traditional applications. It mandates participation in the USDA's community eligibility provision for schools with a certain percentage of identified students, ensuring meals are provided at no cost. The legislation also introduces bonuses for certificated instructional staff in high-poverty schools who achieve national board certification, set at $5,000 annually, and includes a timeline for implementation with a provision that the act will be null and void if specific funding is not allocated by June 30, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 43.62.050, 28A.235.160, 28A.235.250, 28A.235.270, 28A.235.285, 28A.235.300, 28A.405.415, 28A.235.260