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 thrive,” Javidy said, recounting how students sometimes skipped lunch to avoid stigma. Representative Mark Goins, another supporter and a school board member, said the bill’s $4 million one‑time grant would help small districts upgrade kitchens and reduce long lunch lines.

Students and youth leaders described how free school meals affected their peers. Aleida Robles, a youth advisory leader with Partners for Hunger Free Oregon and a Woodburn High School student, said school meals “did more than just provide food. These meals brought ease to my classmates as they allowed us students to focus and feel well supported in our learning.” Juniper, a third‑grade student at Eastwood Elementary, said universal meals ensured children in her Douglas County community “have the food they need at school, regardless of where they live.”

Advocacy and professional groups told the committee the bill would help district operations and local economies. Cassidy Cotter of the Oregon School Employees Association said universal meals would “eliminate lunch debt, reduce administrative burdens, and most importantly, guarantee that no child goes hungry at school.” Parisa Chanrami of the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators said about 94% of public schools now offer meals at no charge and that HB 3435, along with investments, would help close the remaining gap; she said the bill would support efforts such as expanding breakfast after the bell, maximizing federal reimbursements, and addressing meal debt.

Representatives of health and anti‑hunger organizations including the American Heart Association, Oregon Food Bank, Partners for Hunger Free Oregon and the National Farm to School Network highlighted research and operational benefits. Christina Baudemer of the American Heart Association said school meals tend to increase students’ intake of whole grains, vegetables and dairy, and that when meals are free participation rises, which in turn increases federal reimbursement revenue for districts. Ryan Betts of the National Farm to School Network said stronger school meal participation can create a virtuous cycle that increases local food purchasing and supports farm economies.

School nutrition professionals on the front line also testified. Lynn Shore, president of the Oregon School Nutrition Association and a 30‑year school nutrition veteran, said removing free and reduced meal paperwork and lines speeds service and gives students more time to eat, which reduces waste and improves consumption of fruits and vegetables. Shore described practical waste‑reduction efforts already in use, including donations of unopened or excess food to food banks and back‑pack programs.

Testimony included several local statistics and program details offered by speakers: supporters said roughly 65 schools in Oregon were not yet participating in School Meals for All programs and cited a roughly 94% participation figure for schools that already offer meals at no charge. Advocates also said broader adoption during the pandemic demonstrated feasibility and cited research linking universal meal programs to improved attendance and reduced suspensions for some student groups.

No vote was taken on HB 3435 during the Feb. 24 hearing. Committee members asked staff to collect additional information and signaled interest in continuing the conversation about food waste, equipment grants and possible implementation details for small and rural districts.

Supporters emphasized the bill’s goals rather than specific programmatic details: the bill would place explicit authority with the Oregon Department of Education and the State Board of Education to respond to regulatory or funding changes and uses state funds to fill federal funding gaps that cannot be used for certain costs.

The committee closed the public hearing after hearing testimony from dozens of students, educators, school nutrition workers, health advocates and anti‑hunger organizations.

Ending — Committee members asked that any follow‑up questions be routed through legislative staff; no formal committee action on HB 3435 was recorded on Feb. 24.