An Act relative to universal school meals

This bill mandates that all public schools in Massachusetts provide free breakfast and lunch to every student attending the school. To help cover these costs, the legislation requires schools to maximize the use of federal funding programs and assigns the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education the responsibility of paying for any remaining expenses not covered by federal reimbursements. Additionally, the bill directs the state to create regulations that help families access supplemental nutrition assistance programs by offering application support or referrals to relevant agencies. These provisions are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2023.