МОЛОДЕЖНЫЙ ЦЕНТР ЗАЩИТЫ
House Bill 1404
This bill would ensure all students have access to free school meals.
This bill is progressing.
BACKGROUND:
The Federal Free and Reduced-Price Meals Program is intended to provide free or low-cost meals to students. Students qualify for free school meals if their family’s income is at or below 130% of the federal poverty level. Students qualify for a reduced-price meal if their family’s income is between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty level. Students from families with incomes above 185% pay full price for school meals.
Currently schools serving over 700,000 students provide free school meals (breakfast and lunch) to all students in their school who request a meal. Between state and federal policies all students in the following schools are offered free meals:
Schools with at least 40% of their students are included in one of the following categories:
A student from a family who qualifies for Basic Food, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or other need-based programs
A student experiencing homelessness
A student in foster care
Schools who serve students in at least one grade between kindergarten and fourth grade and who have 30% or more or their students qualify for free or reduced-price meals
SUMMARY:
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year all students in every school must be provided with the ability to have a free school breakfast, lunch, or both whether or not they are eligible for a free or reduced-price meal.
POINTS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS BILL:
There is significant research showing the negative impacts that hunger and poor nutrition on a child's ability to engage at school. Proper nutrition is a key part of a child's ability to learn and grow, both academically and socially.
If passed in its original form, this bill would allow Washington to join other states offering free school meals to all their students, like California, Vermont, and Massachusetts.
Ways to Get Involved
Steps to Get Started
Learn where the bill is in the legislative process.
If there is an upcoming hearing, decide how you would like to get your voice heard and take action.
If there is not an upcoming hearing, or if you want to supplement your advocacy, call or write your legislators.
Spread the word and get other people on board.
Participating in a Hearing
Sign in Pro, Con, or Other
This is when individuals, advocates, and organizations make their position on a particular bill known for the record. This is particularly powerful in large numbers. Many organizations will send out Action Alerts asking people to sign in Pro or Con on a bill.
Submit Written Testimony
Submitting written testimony is a great way not only to make your position known, to legislators but also to explain why in more detail. This is a good option if you don't want to speak in front of others. People also like to offer more nuance to their position by writing.
Testify Virtually
Since COVID, many legislators are allowing remote/virtual testimony for bill hearings, as it greatly expands access to the legislative process across the state. For this, individuals usually have between 1-2 minutes to state their opinion on a bill in front of the legislative committee on Zoom.
Testify In Person
To testify on a bill in person, you must travel to Olympia and join the real-time committee hearing on the Capitol campus. You will also get between 1-2 minutes to state your opinion. This is often a powerful way to make an impression on legislators in the room.