appropriation; free school meals; ADE

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not provide details on the distribution method beyond requiring ADE to reduce copayments.

Free School Meals Funding

HB2579 appropriates $4,500,000 from the state General Fund for free school meals for eligible children in fiscal year 2026-2027.

What This Bill Does

• Appropriates $4,500,000 to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) for free school meals in FY 2026-2027.
• Requires ADE to distribute funds to schools participating in federal meal programs to reduce or eliminate copayments for eligible students.

Who It Names or Affects

• Arizona Department of Education
• School districts and charter schools receiving the funds
• Children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals

Terms To Know

General Fund

The main fund used by a state to pay for its operations, including education.

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

A federal program that provides low-cost or free lunches to children in schools and residential childcare institutions.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the funds will be distributed beyond requiring ADE to reduce copayments.
• It is unclear if there are any changes to eligibility criteria for receiving free school meals.

Official Summary Text

HB2579 - 572R - House Bill Summary

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th
Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House:
ED DP 10-2-0-0 | APPROP DPA 15-3-0-0

HB
2579
: appropriation; free school meals; ADE

Sponsor:
Representative Gutierrez, LD 18

Caucus
& COW

Overview

Appropriates
$4,500,000 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2027 for free school meals.

History

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast
Program (SBP) are federally assisted meal programs that provide low-cost or
free lunches and breakfasts that meet federal nutrition standards to children. The
Arizona Department of Education (ADE) receives federal funds from the United
States Department of Agriculture, then reimburses entities participating in the
NSLP or SBP for the costs of providing free or reduced-price lunches or
breakfasts. Eligibility for free and reduced-price meals is determined
according to a student's household size and income. Currently, federal law
prohibits a child from being charged more than 40 cents for a reduced-price
lunch or 30 cents for a reduced-price breakfast (42 U.S.C. ��
1758

and
1773
) (
ADE
) (
Income
Eligibility Guidelines
).

The
FY 2025

and
FY 2026

General Appropriations Acts appropriated $3,800,000 for onetime school meal
grants. ADE must distribute these monies to school districts and charter
schools participating in the NSLP or SBP for grants to reduce or eliminate
copayments that would otherwise be charged to children who are eligible for
reduced-price meals (
FY 2025

and

FY 2026

Appropriations Report).

Provisions

1.

Appropriates
$4,500,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADE to provide free school meals for
children who meet free and reduced-price lunch income eligibility requirements.

2.

States the
Legislature intends the appropriation to be considered ongoing funding in
future years.

Amendments

Committee on
Appropriations

1.

Reduces the
appropriation from $4,500,000 to $1,600,000.

2.

3.

4.

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FOOTER ---------

5.

Initials CH/JD���������������� HB
2579

6.

2/11/2026� Page 0 Caucus
& COW

7.

8.

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FOOTER ---------

Current Bill Text

HB2579 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
appropriation; free school meals; ADE

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2579

Introduced by

Representatives
Gutierrez: Abeytia, Austin, Blattman, Cavero, Connolly, Contreras P, Crews,
De Los Santos, Garcia, Hernandez A, Hernandez C, Liguori, Luna-N�jera,
Mathis, Peshlakai, Simacek, Stahl Hamilton, Travers, Villegas, Volk

AN
ACT

appropriating monies to the department of
education.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.
Appropriation;
department of education; free school meals; intent

A. The sum of $4,500,000 is
appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the
department of education to provide free school meals for children who meet the
income eligibility requirements for free and reduced-price lunches under the
national school lunch and child nutrition acts (42 United States Code sections
1751 through 1793).

B. The legislature intends
that the appropriation made in subsection A of this section be considered
ongoing funding in future years.