Lawmakers in Vermont and Nevada consider making universal free meals programs permanent

Lawmakers in Vermont and Nevada are looking at making their respective universal free meals programs permanent. 

In Nevada, Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui has introduced a draft bill request that would put $53 million in state funds toward a universal free meals program. 

Meanwhile, in Vermont, H. 165 would require all public schools in the state to provide free daily breakfast and lunch to all students. That bill has been referred to the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resilience and Forestry. 

After the U.S. Department of Agriculture waivers that allowed schools nationwide to serve meals to all students at no charge expired last summer, both states allocated funding to continue offering free meals to all students for a limited time. 

As of now, students in Vermont will receive free meals until the end of this school year, while those in Nevada will continue to receive them through the end of next school year. 

Several other states have active legislation regarding universal free meals. For more details, see the map below: