Although advocates are lobbying Ohio lawmakers to fund free meals for K-12 students in the biennial state budget, one key legislative leader has already dismissed the idea.
House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said Wednesday too many Ohio parents can and should pay for their child鈥檚 breakfast and lunch, which is why he won鈥檛 justify further state subsidy of a universal program. Some parents, Huffman said, don鈥檛 want their children to eat what鈥檚 provided at school.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a huge amount of waste in this program. I鈥檝e been through this through the years with schools, like, 鈥楧o we have to give them the green beans if they鈥檙e not going to eat the green beans?鈥� And the answer is yes and that鈥檚 a bad idea,鈥� Huffman said.
Lawmakers across the aisle, as well as some in Huffman鈥檚 own caucus, disagree on the matter. Democrats pushed for universal funding in the prior budget, House Minority Leader Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said.
鈥淎nything that we can do to address that issue in our schools and ensure that our students are well-fed, have nutritious meals while they're at school is beneficial for all students,鈥� Russo said Wednesday.
Universal breakfast and lunch statewide would cost $300 million a year, according to Hunger Free Schools Ohio, a coalition advocating on the issue. Education is poised to get $23.4 billion under DeWine鈥檚 biennial budget鈥攑utting that price tag at about 2.5% of state education funds if it were to be fit in. Breakfast alone rings in at $50 million a year.
An earlier by the Legislative Service Commission of the education portion of the budget shows even with the present funding formula included, there are actually cuts to traditional K-12 public schools, but almost $500 million more for vouchers and charter schools.
Dozens of high school students with red 鈥淗ungry Kids Can鈥檛 Learn鈥� shirts descended on the Ohio Statehouse to make the case last week. Some testified before the House Education committee, which fielded hours worth of testimony on the broader budget.
Gov. Mike DeWine must sign Ohio鈥檚 budget before July 1, the first day of the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The House is likely to send its version to the Senate sometime next month.
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