DelawareSome Delaware schools must offer free breakfast to every student
Starting July 1, 2026, Delaware public schools in the federal breakfast program must offer every student free breakfast, except schools using four alternative federal funding options.
What it does
Beginning July 1, 2026, covered public schools must offer every student free breakfast, regardless of family income. Schools using four alternative federal meal funding options are exempt.
The state must pay covered schools for up to one free breakfast per student per breakfast service. Its payment is based on the federal free breakfast rate, minus federal payments the school receives.
Argument forFamilies at covered schools may save money because every student can receive free breakfast regardless of household income.
Argument againstState spending could rise because the education department must pay covered schools for free breakfasts after subtracting federal payments.
More detail
Covered public schools must offer breakfast free of charge to every attending student. This covers Delaware public schools in the federal School Breakfast Program. Household income does not affect access. Schools using one of four alternative federal meal funding options are exempt. The breakfast requirement was to be implemented beginning July 1, 2026.
The Delaware Department of Education must reimburse covered public schools for free breakfasts. Payments cover no more than one free breakfast per student per breakfast service at a covered school. For each budget year, the state multiplies the federal free breakfast rate by the number of breakfasts served, then subtracts federal breakfast payments the school received that year. The payment rule was to be implemented beginning July 1, 2026, with reimbursements made for each budget year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jul 30Signed by Governor Matt MeyerBecame Law
- Jun 30Passed By Senate. Votes: 16 YES 5 NOPassed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 26Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its MeritsMinor
- Jun 25Assigned to Finance Committee in SenateMinor
- Jun 25Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 4 FavorableMinor
- Jun 17Assigned to Education Committee in SenateMinor
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 17Passed By House. Votes: 35 YES 1 NO 5 ABSENTPassed House
- Jun 10Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 2 Favorable, 4 On Its MeritsMinor
- Apr 17Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 91, and Assigned to Appropriations Committee in HouseIntroduced
EducationTaxes & Budget