Schools; requiring certain federal or other authorized funds to be used to provide free school meals to qualifying students; effective date; emergency.

HB 1605 requires Oklahoma public schools to use federal child nutrition funds to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all K-12 students who qualify for reduced-price meals under federal rules (e.g., those from households meeting income guidelines). It prohibits schools from charging these students any copayment for meals and mandates the state to cover costs if federal funds are insufficient. The bill also requires the Oklahoma State Department of Education to annually report meal program participation data to the Legislature and undergo a 2025 audit to ensure compliance and expanded access. This directly affects public schools, qualifying students, and state education administrators.