Panel backs bill to provide free breakfast to all Virginia public school students
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Summary
HB 96, sponsored by Delegate Bennett Parker and backed by education and child‑nutrition groups, would provide universal free breakfast to K‑12 students; the subcommittee referred the bill to appropriations after unanimous support.
House Bill 96, presented by Delegate Bennett Parker and recommended by the Commission to End Hunger, would provide free breakfast to all public school students in Virginia. The sponsor said universal breakfast is an investment in education and family stability, noting research linking school meals to improved test scores, behavior and attendance.
A broad coalition urged support: Voices for Virginia’s Children, No Kid Hungry, the American Heart Association, the Virginia PTA, the Virginia NAACP, the American Diabetes Association, the School Nutrition Association, the Virginia Education Association and others. Liz Nigro of Voices for Virginia’s Children testified the bill would save Virginia families an average of about $315 per school year. Speakers described the proposal as a safety‑net measure amid rising grocery costs.
Opponents raised targeting and local policy questions, including whether universal provision could displace funding for students most in need or limit parents’ choices at some local schools. After public testimony and questions, the subcommittee moved to report and refer HB 96 to appropriations, 10‑0.
