Democratic lawmakers in Nevada are pushing for a bill, Assembly Bill 268, that would provide free school breakfast and lunch to every student in the state. Initially asking for $86 million over two years, the amount has been reduced to $33 million. While some counties in Nevada already provide free meals to students, sponsors of the bill want to ensure all students have access to food at school. The bill’s sponsors argue that students in some counties are at risk of going hungry and it is their duty to care for all students in Nevada.
However, not everyone is in favor of the bill. In the past, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo vetoed a similar bill, citing concerns about food waste and the availability of other state funds for meals. Democrats have criticized Lombardo for his veto, and the governor may face a political dilemma with his re-election campaign approaching. While Republican representatives have spoken against the bill, Democratic lawmakers continue to advocate for it to ensure that all students have access to meals at school.
In addition to the universal meal bill, there may be a second bill introduced to set aside funds in case federal funding for school meals is reduced. The bill is currently in the Ways & Means Committee and has until April 11 to move forward. The issue has sparked debate on the role of government in providing meals to students and the importance of ensuring all students have access to nutritious food during the school day.
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