MN House to vote on free school lunch/breakfast, $5M emergency aid to food shelves

The DFL-controlled Minnesota House votes later today (Thurs 330pm debate start) on making free school lunch and breakfast available to all Minnesota students.  Minneapolis Democrat Sydney Jordan says:

“Schools are no longer receiving resources that they need for meals from the federal government like they did during the pandemic.  Student lunch debt is racking up across the state, and families struggling with the high cost of food need these meals now.”

It would cost about 400 million dollars in each of the next two-year budgets, and Little Falls Republican Ron Kresha says instead of another government program, send the money directly to school districts:

“I think a better proposed solution would be to put the… 387 or the 419 (million dollars) right on the (general school aid) formula, and then let schools buy down the (student lunch/breakfast) debt.”