North Carolina HB 774: School Breakfast for All.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 774

Short Title: School Breakfast for All. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Biggs, Lambeth, Pickett, and Cotham (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Education - K-12, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
Operations of the House
April 7, 2025
*H774-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROVIDE BREAKFAST TO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AT NO COST TO 2
THE STUDENTS AND TO ESTABLISH THE FARM-TO-TABLE INITIATIVE. 3
Whereas, one in five kids goes hungry every day in North Carolina, putting them at 4
risk of poor health and educational outcomes; and 5
Whereas, hunger negatively impacts a child's ability to learn, concentrate, and 6
perform well in school; and 7
Whereas, research shows that students who eat a nutritious breakfast demonstrate 8
higher academic achievement, improved behavior, and increased school attendance; and 9
Whereas, the economic benefits of school breakfast at no cost to the student and 10
family include reduced absenteeism, lower healthcare costs, and long-term workforce 11
productivity; and 12
Whereas, North Carolina is home to a rich agricultural industry, and sourcing locally 13
grown fruits, vegetables, dairy, and proteins for school meals stimulates economic growth in 14
rural communities; and 15
Whereas, partnerships between schools, farmers, and food distributors create new 16
market opportunities for North Carolina's agricultural sector while ensuring students receive 17
nutritious meals; and 18
Whereas, funding and policy support within School Breakfast for All legislation 19
would align with North Carolina's goals for economic sustainability, public health, and student 20
success; Now, therefore, 21
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 22
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 115C-263(a) reads as rewritten: 23
"(a) As a part of the function of the public school system, local boards of education public 24
school units shall have a school food authority to provide to the extent practicable school nutrition 25
services in the schools under their jurisdiction. The school food authority shall provide breakfast 26
service at no cost to students in accordance with G.S. 115C-263.5 and may offer other nutrition 27
services to the extent practicable. All school nutrition services made available under this authority 28
shall be provided in accordance with federal guidelines established by the Food and Nutrition 29
Service of the United States Department of Agriculture." 30
SECTION 1.(b) Part 2 of Article 17 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 31
amended by adding a new section to read: 32
"§ 115C-263.5. Universal breakfast program. 33

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 774-First Edition
(a) To the extent funds are made available for the purpose, the Department of Public 1
Instruction shall allocate sufficient funds to public schools to provide breakfast at no cost to 2
students attending the school in prekindergarten through grade 12 who elect to receive breakfast. 3
State and federal reimbursements for the universal breakfast program shall not exceed one 4
hundred percent (100%) of the federal free rate of meals served. These funds shall supplement 5
and not supplant any federal funds provided for the same purposes. 6
(b) Schools are encouraged to implement innovative breakfast service models, including 7
breakfast in the classroom, grab-and-go breakfast, and second chance breakfast. 8
(c) No later than February 15 of each year that funds are made available for purposes of 9
this section, the Department of Public Instruction shall report to the Joint Legislative Education 10
Oversight Committee, at a minimum, on participation rates, costs, and program effectiveness as 11
measured by impact on student health, academic performance, and overall school participation." 12
SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 115C-264 reads as rewritten: 13
"§ 115C-264. Operation. 14
(a) Local boards of education operating school nutrition programs shall participate in the 15
federal School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program established by the federal 16
government. and, if eligible, the Community Eligibility Provision Program. School nutrition 17
programs shall be under the jurisdiction of the Division of School Nutrition of the Department 18
of Public Instruction. 19
... 20
(c) All school nutrition services shall be operated on a nonprofit basis, and any earnings 21
therefrom over and above the cost of operation as defined herein shall be used to reduce the cost 22
of food, to serve more nutritious food, or to provide free or reduced-price meals to economically 23
disadvantaged children and for no other purpose. The term "cost of operation" means the actual 24
cost incurred in the purchase and preparation of food, the salaries of all personnel directly 25
engaged in providing nutrition services, and the cost of nonfoo