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Bill to eliminate reduced‑price school meal copays draws broad support; committee questions cost and scope
Summary
Representative Melissa Romano’s HB551 would eliminate the 30¢–40¢ reduced‑price copays for school breakfast and lunch and fund reimbursements with $600,000 annually from the general fund. Testimony emphasized reduced stigma and administrative burdens; members asked staff to verify counts and whether the appropriation covers expected demand.
The House Education Committee heard House Bill 551, sponsored by Representative Melissa Romano, which would eliminate reduced‑price co‑payments for school meals and create a state reimbursement program funded at $600,000 annually.
"This is a bill about feeding kids," Romano said, noting that an estimated 1 in 6 Montana children live in food‑insecure households. Romano described HB551 as a state‑funded reimbursement program that would ensure students who qualify for reduced‑price meals receive them at no cost and said she had discussed the proposal with…
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