VirginiaVirginia schools would provide requested breakfasts at no cost
Virginia public schools would provide requested breakfasts at no cost, with the state covering the gap between federal payments and the free-meal rate.
What it does
School boards would require public schools to join federal meal programs and provide requested lunches, even if a student cannot pay or owes for past meals. Boards could collect meal debt but not use private debt collectors.
Public schools would provide a free breakfast to any student who asks, unless the student's parent gives written permission to withhold it.
The state would reimburse schools for breakfasts served, up to one per student per school day, covering the gap between federal payments and the federal free-meal rate.
Argument forStudents could get breakfast without paying, which may help families who cannot afford the meal or owe for past meals.
Argument againstState payments could leave taxpayers covering the gap between federal payments and the free-meal rate for each school.
More detail
School boards would require public schools to take part in federal lunch and breakfast programs and provide requested lunches. This applies to public elementary and secondary schools in each local school division and to students who request lunch. Schools could still collect payment for meals, but could not use a private debt collector to collect meal debt.
Public schools would provide breakfast at no cost to students who ask for it. This applies to students at public elementary and secondary schools in each local school division. A parent may give the school board written permission to withhold breakfast from their student.
The state Department would reimburse schools for breakfasts served to students. This applies to public elementary and secondary schools. Reimbursement would cover no more than one breakfast per student per school day. The state payment would cover the difference between the federal payment and the free-meal rate set by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for each school.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 21Continued from last sessionLatest
- Feb 10Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
- Jan 28Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB4)
- Jan 22Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)Minor
- Jan 15Assigned Education sub: Public EducationMinor
- 2025
- Nov 17Referred to Committee on Education and HealthMinor
- Nov 17Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100755DIntroduced
Education