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Bill would reintroduce income eligibility for school lunches; lawmakers debate trade-offs between meal access and classroom funding
Summary
Representative Myers introduced House File 2201 to the House Education Finance Committee, proposing to keep free breakfasts for all students while reintroducing income-based eligibility for free lunches for families above a proposed $150,000 threshold and redirecting estimated savings into school operating resources.
Representative [Myers] presented House File 2201 before the Education Finance Committee on April 1, proposing to keep free universal breakfast for all students while restoring income eligibility for free school lunch above a proposed threshold (example used in the hearing: $150,000 for a family of four). The bill would redirect projected state savings into a new local optional revenue (LOR) tier intended to support classroom positions and reduce layoffs.
Author and intent: "What the bill does is it maintains free breakfasts for everybody... it requires anybody over $150,000 income, they've gotta provide those lunches," Representative Myers said in his opening. He and supporting witnesses described the measure as a pragmatic compromise to preserve educator jobs and classroom programs amid projected budget shortfalls. (Representative Myers, author)
Fiscal and program details: The bill’s supporters cited a nonpartisan estimate that the…
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