Minnesota Senate to Debate, Vote on Universal School Meals Bill

The Minnesota Senate is scheduled to debate and vote on legislation today (Tuesday 11 a-m) providing free breakfast and lunch for all students in the state.  D-F-L Senator Heather Gustafson of Vadnais Heights says making sure kids have the food they need in schools…

“Means that their mental health will be better. It means their classroom behavior will be better. It means that they’ll be able to focus on learning because they won’t be in the classroom with an empty stomach.”

But Republican Senator Gary Dahms of Redwood Falls says there are already school meal laws on the books:

“We have free and reduced lunches. We also have anti-lunch shaming programs that have been implemented…and those seem to be working.”

Universal school meals would cost the state about 190 million dollars a year.  The bill has already passed the DFL-controlled Minnesota House.