Last week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed An Act Promoting School Nutrition (H.3999), which will address the challenge that children and families living in poverty face when it comes to unpaid school meal debt. That legislation, championed in the House by State Reps. Andres X. Vargas of Haverhill and Sean Garballey of Arlington, will both ensure that more students have access to free school meals and prevent school business practices that effectively punish or embarrass students when their families incur meal debt. The Senate is pending action on a similar bill filed by Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem, S. 298.

Patricia Baker, MLRI’s food security expert, noted:

“This legislation represents a major step by the Massachusetts House of Representatives toward boosting federal nutrition dollars for local schools and reducing the burden of school meal debt on families with children. In addition to requiring more schools with high numbers of low-income students to provide universal free meals, this legislation prevents schools from involving or punishing students for meal debt. As we work toward universal school meals for all, we deeply appreciate Speaker Mariano and House leadership in passing Rep Vargas’ bill.”

In 2018, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute issued a report that looked at unpaid school meal policies in 154 Massachusetts school districts and how they can become punitive towards children in low-income households. We also looked at how some other states across the nation were addressing this practice, a summary of which you can find in this opinion piece at WBUR.

Georgia Katsoulomitis, MLRI’s Executive Director, said:

“Expanding access to nutrition was important prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there can be no doubt that the economic hardships created by this public health crisis has made it even more imperative for low-income families. MLRI applauds the House’s efforts and we look forward to working with the Massachusetts State Senate to see that this legislation passes and eventually becomes law.”

MLRI thanks bill sponsors Representatives Vargas and Garballey, House leadership including Education Chair Peisch, Ways and Means Chair Michlewitz, and Speaker Mariano for their hard leadership on this critical issue. We look forward to working with the Senate to ensure full passage of these important provisions and are proud to partner with Project Bread on achieving universal free meals for all Massachusetts students.