Committee hears broad support for School Meals for All bill that would make breakfast and lunch free statewide

Portland — The House Committee on Education opened a public hearing Feb. 24 on House Bill 3435, known as School Meals for All, which would require every Oregon public school to offer breakfast and lunch at no cost to students beginning with the 2026–27 school year and provides a transition period for 2025–26.

The bill, as described by committee staff, appropriates $4,000,000 from the general fund to the Oregon Department of Education to help districts and parents purchase or upgrade equipment needed to comply before the law takes effect and declares an emergency so it would become effective July 1, 2025.

Supporters told the committee the bill would reduce stigma, improve nutrition and classroom performance, and simplify administration for school food service programs.

Representative Courtney Neron, one of the bill sponsors, told the committee she drew on her experience as a classroom teacher in arguing that universal school meals reduce stigma and improve academic performance: “When we remove that stigma and create the opportunity for shared breakfasts and lunches, it helps build community and leads to improved academic performance,” Neron said.

Representative Cyrus Javidy, also a sponsor, recounted personal experience with food insecurity and urged colleagues to treat universal meals as an investment. “Hunger kids don't learn. Hunger kids don't…