Bill Would Provide Free Breakfast, Lunch To All MN Students

ST. PAUL, MN — A bill making its way through the Minnesota Legislature would provide free school breakfast and free school lunch to all Minnesota students, regardless of their family's income.

The measure relies on a combination of federal and state funding to make school meals universal. If signed into law, the state would likely pay around $185 million a year, according to an estimate from MinnPost.

"Minnesota is a state that values education and wants to see every child succeed, but that is not possible when 1 in 6 students are trying to learn on an empty stomach," said Rep. Sydney Jordan, the Minneapolis lawmaker who authored the bill, in a statement.

"Now is the time for our state to step up and provide the food security families need and the education our students deserve."

Under a federal program, students can already receive free meals if their family income is less than 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

Students can receive reduced-price meals if their family's income is between 130 percent and 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

Jordan's bill would require the state to pay for the rest of each student's meal — after federal funding is applied — regardless of how much money their family makes.

Gov. Tim Walz and other state Democrats have already voiced their support for free school meals.

The proposal has good odds at becoming law, with Democrats controlling the state House and Senate, and the governor's mansion.