Senate approves privately funded five-year school meals pilot for public schools
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Summary
The Senate adopted AM 31-20 to create a five-year, privately funded cash fund administered by the Department of Education to pay reduced-price school meal costs for eligible public-school students; the donor restricted funds to public schools, and debate focused on government role and long-term expectations.
The Nebraska Senate approved AM 31-20, creating a five-year pilot program funded by a private donor to cover reduced-price school meal costs for qualifying public-school students.
Senator Mikaela Kavanaugh opened the amendment and described a cash fund administered by the Department of Education that will pay 100% of the difference for eligible students (130–185% of the federal poverty line), with reporting after five years. "In 4 days, I found private dollars to pay for public school lunches," Kavanaugh said, urging colleagues to accept the donation rather than turn away immediate help.
Floor debate was protracted. Supporters argued the pilot imposes no general-fund cost, serves more than 20,000 children, and uses an existing state administrative framework to distribute funds efficiently. Senator Hunt called the private-public partnership an "easy win" that avoids taxpayer expense and enables evaluation. Opponents raised concerns that creating a state-administered fund with a finite donor could create long-term expectations and future pressure on the Legislature to fund the program after the donor’s five-year commitment ends. Several senators proposed or signaled floor amendments to extend benefits to private-school students; Senator Bosin later said the estimated fiscal cost to cover private schools would be under $200,000 annually.
The Clerk recorded a roll-call vote of 36 ayes and 12 nays on AM 31-20; the amendment was adopted. Senator Greco then moved to advance LB 966 to E & R for engrossing.
