Lawmakers Consider Expanding Free School Lunch Eligibility

A bill in the Legislature would offer free school breakfast and lunch to all students who qualify for reduced meals. Supporters say it would offer critical help for children as grocery prices increase and food security becomes scarcer for families.

Kim Popham,  Director of Public Policy and Research for the Montana Federation of Public Employees, urged the House Education Committee to support House Bill 551 during the bill’s initial hearing last week.

“In this committee, many of you often bring up the fact that our test scores are low, but let me remind you that if students don’t have enough t...