Advocates seek $10M to preserve universal school meals as federal rules change

Delegate Julie Plakovic Carr told the Appropriations Committee that House Bill 704 would dedicate $10 million beginning in fiscal year 2028 to support universal school-meal programs and protect schools from the fallout of recent federal changes.

"Decades of research show that hunger negatively affects student attendance, academic achievement, ability to focus, behavior, and mental health," Plakovic Carr said. She and witnesses warned that federal actions affecting SNAP and Medicaid eligibility have already reduced the number of students directly certified for free meals and that further cuts could imperil school participation in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

Ann Wallerstedt of the Maryland Food Bank and Julia Gross of Maryland Hunger Solutions said the pandemic-era universal meal program showed how much hunger drops when all children receive meals at school. Sharaska Coleman, chief operating officer for Prince George’s County Public Schools, told the panel that local districts rely on the program to cover hundreds of thousands of meals and use federal reimbursements to sustain nutrition operations.

Panelists acknowledged $10 million will not cover statewide need but described the appropriation as a defense to preserve CEP participation and reimbursements in high‑poverty schools at risk of losing direct certification. The sponsor said broader, long-term solutions — including a fully universal program — remain a goal but are far more costly.

The committee heard testimony from food‑security advocates, public‑health groups and school-system officials; no vote was taken at the hearing.