AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL MEALS.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill has passed the legislature but an effective date is listed as July 1, 2026; final executive action (such as signing) is not shown in the provided text.

Act Concerning School Meals

This law requires eligible school districts to provide free breakfasts to all students and free lunches to those already qualifying for reduced-price meals during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

What This Bill Does

• Requires eligible school districts to give free breakfasts to every student at no cost.
• Requires eligible school districts to give free lunches to students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
• Makes these schools eligible to receive grants from the Department of Education to pay for the food.

Who It Names or Affects

• All students in eligible school districts receiving breakfasts.
• Students already approved for free or reduced-price lunches who will now get them at no charge.
• Local and regional boards of education, charter schools, and magnet schools that participate in federal meal programs but do not use the Community Eligibility Provision.

Terms To Know

Eligible school district

A local or regional board of education, state or local charter school, or interdistrict magnet school operator that participates in federal meal programs but does not use the Community Eligibility Provision.

Community Eligibility Provision

The federal meal reimbursement program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture as set forth in 7 CFR 245.9.

Limits and Unknowns

• This law only applies during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.
• Schools already using the Community Eligibility Provision are not covered by this specific requirement.
• The text does not state how much money each school will receive in grants.

Official Summary Text

To provide free school breakfasts to all students in the state and to provide free school lunches for all students who are eligible for free or reduced priced lunches in the state.

Current Bill Text

LCO 1283 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5214
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 1283

Referred to Committee on EDUCATION

Introduced by:
(ED)

AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL MEALS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. ( Effective July 1, 2026 ) Notwithstanding the provisions of 1
sections 10 -215, 10 -215a and 10 -266w of the general statutes, for the 2
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, each eligible school district shall (1) 3
provide (A) school breakfasts to all students at no charge to such 4
students, and (B) school lunches to all students eligible for free or 5
reduced priced lunch at no charge to such students, and (2) be eligible 6
to receive a grant from the Department of Education for such free school 7
breakfasts and school lunches. As used in this section, "eligible school 8
district" means a local or regional board of education, state or local 9
charter school or an interdistrict magnet school operator that (A) is 10
participating in the federal School Breakfast Program or the National 11
Lunch Program, as the case may be, and (B) is not implementing the 12
Community Eligibility Provision; and "Community Eligibility 13
Provision" means the federal meal reimbursement program 14
administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, as set 15
forth in 7 CFR 245.9, as amended from time to time. 16
Raised Bill No. 5214

LCO 1283 2 of 2

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section

ED Joint Favorable C/R APP