Rep Caldwell and Senator Vargas introduce Healthy School Meals for All Act

"In addition to helping the many families suffering from food insecurity, universal meals will ensure that all kids have nutritious food to fuel their day and help them focus on learning.”

Press release:

Representative Justine Caldwell (Democrat, District 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich) and Senator Lammis Vargas (Democrat, District 28, Cranston, Providence) have introduced the Healthy School Meals for All Act, saying no child should have to worry about hunger at school.

The legislation (2025-H 5742 / 2025-S 0430) would ensure that all public-school students, regardless of family income, have access to breakfast and lunch at no cost to ensure they are fed and prepared to learn.

“All kids do better in and out of the classroom when they are well-fed, and when the food they are eating is healthy,” said Representative Caldwell. “When nutritious, appealing universal breakfast and lunch is the norm at school, and kids have enough time to eat it, we will see the results in better learning and public health, now and in the future. In addition to helping the many families suffering from food insecurity, universal meals will ensure that all kids have nutritious food to fuel their day and help them focus on learning.”

The bill would institute universal school meals in three phases: in all public elementary schools in the 2025-2026 school year, in middle schools the following year, and in high schools the year after that.

“Food is a necessity for every kid at school, regardless of income. But that doesn’t mean the cafeteria is an equitable experience for every kid,” said Senator Vargas, who grew up eating free school lunches due to family income. “When we welcome every student, every day to the cafeteria line to get a solid, healthy breakfast and lunch, we’ll eliminate not only hunger but stigma and unwarranted shame as well as administrative burdens for schools. Investing in universal school meals will make them better for everyone, help create the supportive, healthy environment that we need in every school and make sure all kids are ready to learn.”

Last year, through the current State budget, the General Assembly extended free meals to the approximately 6,200 children who meet the federal qualification for reduced-price meals at school.

The Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Newport, West Warwick and Woonsocket school districts, numerous charter schools, and a handful of other schools around the State already provide universal free school lunch because they qualify for federal funding based on income population-wide.

Much of the cost of the expansion in this bill would be reimbursed with federal funds through United States Department of Agriculture programs that fully fund meals provided to students without charge. The federal government also reimburses a portion of the costs of meals provided to students who don’t qualify for the federal free rate. The State would reimburse districts for the remaining costs.

The increased reimbursement for greater participation in school meals would help programs improve meal quality, upgrade kitchen equipment, hire staff, and increase the use of fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Additionally, not having to be involved with payments or to act as “lunch debt” collectors will decrease schools’ administrative burdens.

From the onset of the pandemic until the start of the 2022-2023 school year, federal emergency funding and waivers provided free school meals to all public-school students nationwide.

Substantial benefits—both for students and for schools—subsequently prompted several states to enact bills such as this. If lawmakers pass this bill, Rhode Island would become the ninth state, following Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Mexico, to permanently enact a Healthy Meals for All program.

Providing free meals to all students would help address food insecurity in Rhode Island, which has been growing due to rapid inflation and rising food costs. In 2024, nearly two out of every five Rhode Island households were considered food insecure, meaning they struggled to afford adequate food. The rate is higher—as high as 47%—in communities of color.

The federally set income limits to qualify for free lunch exclude many struggling families in Rhode Island. Even with this year’s expansion of free meals to families who previously qualified for reduced-price meals, a family of two adults and two children must have an income at or below $57,720 to get free school meals in Rhode Island. According to the Economic Progress Institute’s 2024 Rhode Island Standard of Need, a family of four in Rhode Island needs a pre-tax income of $107,126 to meet basic expenses.

The legislation is supported by the Healthy School Meals for All Coalition, which includes more than 40 organizations dedicated to health, children, education, and ending poverty.

Rhode Islanders support a Healthy School Meals for All program. According to the Rhode Island Survey Initiative conducted by the URI Harrington School of Communications & Media in September 2023, 68% support legislation requiring free lunches for all K-12 students attending public schools.