Free Breakfast and Lunch for Every Public School Student

Official: Feed Our Kids Act of 2026

IntroducedMay 11, 2026

Agriculture and Food

Why This Matters

This bill would make breakfast and lunch free for every K-12 student in a participating public school, regardless of family income, by removing the eligibility application from federal school meal programs.

If you have school-age kids or work in K-12, this bill would replace the income-tiered school meal system with universal free breakfast and lunch and wipe out existing meal debt. The bill itself does not name a funding source, so the cost would have to be appropriated separately. With only 3 Democratic sponsors so far and a Republican-controlled House, it is unlikely to advance without significant changes.

Affects: Roughly 50 million K-12 public school students and their families, school districts and food-service staff, and federal taxpayers who would fund the expanded reimbursements.

What changes is this bill making?

1. Makes every student in a participating school eligible for free breakfast and free lunch, regardless of family income. 2. Eliminates the reduced-price meal tier and the income-based application process for student meals. 3. Extends free meals to afterschool snack programs, summer food service, and child and adult care food programs. 4. Sets federal reimbursement rates to schools at $4.63 per lunch and $2.80 per breakfast, adjusted annually for inflation. 5. Prohibits schools from collecting existing school meal debts immediately upon enactment. 6. Takes effect one year after being signed into law. 7. Introduced May 11, 2026 by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) with cosponsors Reps. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and Darren Soto (D-FL). Currently in the House Education and Workforce Committee.

Who is affected?

Roughly 50 million K-12 public school students and their families, school districts and food-service staff, and federal taxpayers who would fund the expanded reimbursements.

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