Committee hears bill to provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students

The Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1404, sponsored by Rep. April Berg and requested by Gov. Jay Inslee, which would require all public schools to offer breakfast and lunch at no charge to any requesting student beginning in the 2026–27 school year and require state reimbursement to cover meals not federally reimbursed at the USDA free rate.

The bill would expand existing requirements tied to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and state law so that any public school that provides meals upon request must receive state reimbursements for meals that are not fully covered by federal free‑meal reimbursement. Committee staff estimated the annual cost to the state at roughly $146 million per year under current federal reimbursement assumptions and projected biennial and four‑year outlook costs in the tens or hundreds of millions.

Supporters said universal school meals reduce stigma and improve students’ ability to learn. “Food is a basic human need, and adequate nutrition is essential for students to learn,” Jenny Choi, K–12 policy adviser to the governor, told the committee during the hearing. Representative Berg said the bill is driven by…