Gov. Kathy Hochul has unveiled a proposal aimed at ensuring no child goes hungry during the school day. Under the new plan, every student in the state would receive free breakfast and lunch, regardless of their family’s income.

Currently, eligibility for free school meals depends on income-based criteria.

However, Hochul’s new initiative seeks to eliminate those qualifications, providing universal access to nutritious meals for all students. The program would cover both breakfast and lunch, potentially saving families up to $165 per child every month.

Isabella Lomax, a parent in the Westbury School District, shared how the district’s current free meals program has benefited her family.

“I can just send him to school and know he’s receiving a healthy and nutritious meal,” she said. Lomax also noted that the money saved on meals helps her family meet other financial needs, such as heating the home and purchasing necessary clothing.

Gov. Hochul stressed the importance of eliminating the stigma that often accompanies free or reduced-price meals. “Life is hard enough for our kids these days, so I don’t want them to have the stigma when they get a reduced-price lunch or a free meal,” she said. The aim is to create a more equitable system where every student, regardless of background, feels included.

The proposal also highlights the potential academic benefits of the program. By ensuring that students are well-fed, officials hope to see improved focus and happier, healthier children in the classroom.

The state would set aside $180 million in the 2025 fiscal year budget to fund the initiative. The universal school meals plan is expected to cost roughly $340 million.