TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A new bill has been introduced in the Florida Senate that, if passed, would create a universal free breakfast and lunch program in the state for public school students.

Officials say most of the money for Senate Bill 74 would come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the state would only have to supplement a small amount.

What You Need To Know

  • Introduced before the Senate last week, Senate Bill 74 would provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students in the state

  • Supporters of the bill say most of the money for the program would come from the federal government
  • A universal free school meals bill was introduced last year, but it died in the House Agriculture, Conservation and Resiliency Subcommittee
  • The bill has to go before the Education Committee before it moves forward to the House and Senate

State Sen. Lori Berman said the bill will help kids in the long run, even after they’re done with school. 

“The research is that when kids are hungry, they can’t focus.” said Berman. “And when they can’t focus, they’re not able to learn. And that’s a real problem for us and for them to succeed. We don’t want children to graduate who don’t have the skills necessary to be in the workforce.”

The state did introduce a universal free school meals bill last year, too, but it died in the House Agriculture, Conservation and Resiliency Subcommittee.

The current bill will have to go before the Education Committee before it moves forward.

And while Berman said there has been some pushback on the free and reduced lunch program on a nationwide level, she was optimistic and hoped the legislation might help to break the stigma behind free and reduced lunches.