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Proposal to expand free school meals to 200% of poverty draws broad support and questions on costs
Summary
Senate Bill 204 would expand free meal eligibility to children in households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, streamline applications and offer partial reimbursements to districts that modernize enrollment systems, supporters said April 15.
Senate Bill 204, introduced by Senator Donovan Fenton, would expand eligibility for free school meals to children in households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, simplify certification and application procedures and provide partial reimbursements to districts that adopt online enrollment systems. The measure is opt‑in for districts.
"This legislation does three key things," Senator Fenton told the committee: expand eligibility to 200% of the poverty line; make it easier to certify and apply by supporting online systems; and strengthen personal responsibility and partial cost‑sharing for those who do not qualify. He framed the bill as a fiscally prudent, opt‑in approach intended to…
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