Signed by Governor Phil Scott

Highlights:

• Alleges that universal school meals create “a necessary foundation for learning readiness” (Page 1).

• Requires school boards to “cause to operate within each school in the school district the same school breakfast and school lunch program made available to students who qualify for those meals under the National Child Nutrition Act and the National School Lunch Act, as amended, for each attending student every school day at no charge” (Page 3).

• Requires “the highest level of student participation” (Page 3).

• Authorizes grants to reimburse schools for universal meal programs (Page 4).

• Appropriates $29 million for such reimbursements (Page 6).

• Establishes effective date of July 1, 2022 (Page 7).