WA Lawmakers Propose Free School Meals For All Students

OLYMPIA, WA — The first week of the 2023 legislative session is underway and one of the bills proposed Wednesday would require public schools to provide students with breakfast and lunch at no cost.

Authored by state Sen. T'wina Nobles (D-Fircest) and Rep. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane), the "Washington Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act" would classify school meals as part of a basic education, making the state constitutionally obligated to provide funding.

If approved, the legislation mandates that schools provide free breakfast and lunches to any student who requests one, which sponsors say will help remove social stigmas around existing programs by extending the same option to all 1.1 million students equally.

"Access to nutritious food is a key component to the health and wellbeing of children," Riccelli said in a statement. "Hungry kids can't learn and by providing meals to any student who wants one, we're taking an effective and meaningful step toward ensuring that children won't go hungry in our schools."

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal is among the supports for extending free meals to all students and last year said 330,000 students were ineligible for existing programs. Reykdal's office estimated extending meal coverage universally would cost $86 million annually. Other states that have implemented similar programs include California, Massachusetts and Vermont.