WATCH: Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas’ Remarks Here

Queens, NY – Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, prime sponsor of the Universal School Meals Act, celebrates the inclusion of her legislation for free breakfast and lunch for all students (A00282/S00594) in the passage of the final NYS Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget. In September of last year, legislators and advocates rallied to call on the governor to help end child hunger by closing the gap and guaranteeing that school children, no matter their family’s income level, can receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at no cost, every school day.

“The inclusion of Universal School Meals in the final budget is a monumental victory for New Yorkers and the first time we are funding a universal program in our state in a generation. New Yorkers are facing an incredibly difficult time with the Trump administration slashing federal funding, invoking chaos across industries, and driving up the cost of living while food insecurity rises across the state. We are now closer to ensuring that no student in New York goes hungry as they learn in our schools because we know that you can’t teach a hungry child. I’m proud to have carried the Universal School Meals Act with Senator Michelle Hinchey for three years and to have worked with Hunger Solutions New York, Community Food Advocates, and NYSUT in a broad statewide coalition, which garnered unprecedented bipartisan support in our legislature. Fully funded breakfast and lunches will save families about $165 in grocery spending per child each month. Helping to eliminate hunger and tend to the basic needs of New Yorkers is what government is supposed to do.” said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, Chair of the Task Force on Women’s Issues and prime sponsor of the Assembly bill.

“Our vision to bring Universal School Meals to New York is one of the most consequential public goods we’ve delivered for children and families in a generation – setting our students up to succeed in school and beyond,” said State Senator Michelle Hinchey. “I am deeply proud to have co-led the push for Universal School Meals with Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas. Guaranteeing free breakfast and lunch for every student means no child has to learn hungry, we eliminate the stigma that once held students back, and we deliver tangible savings and peace of mind to families. I’m grateful to our coalition led by Hunger Solutions and Community Food Advocates, which never gave up the fight, and I cannot wait to see more students join the program and thrive because of it.”

Historic investments in the 2024 ($135 million) and 2025 ($145 million) state budgets dramatically expanded access to school meals, enabling an additional 1,400 schools to offer free school meals to nearly 384,000 additional students. This resulted in a 12 percent increase in the school meal program participation across New York in the first six months.

With the passage of Universal School Meals in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget, 284,000 additional students will have access to free school meals, with 47% of students (135,00 students) living on Long Island and 23% (66,000 students) in the Hudson Valley – regions with high costs of living and stark income inequality.

Additionally, fully funding universal school meals will eliminate the stigma attached to the program and encourage all students to participate in the program, alleviating a growing hunger crisis across New York State. A Siena poll last year found that Universal School Meals had bipartisan support among various groups across geography, income, race, and age and was the most popular policy in the budget that was proposed in January.

“This is our day to celebrate NYS’ commitment to its children, families and school communities. Universal free school meals provides 2.7 million students barrier-free access to two nutritious meals every school day.School meals fuel students’ ability to thrive in school and help families with grocery savings to the tune of $165 per month per child,” said Liz Accles, Executive Director, Community Food Advocates.

“We applaud this historic victory for New York’s students,” said Andrés Vives, Chief Executive Officer of Hunger Solutions New York, co-lead organization of the Healthy School Meals for All New York Kids coalition. “Universal school meals support food security, bolster learning, and save families money. We thank Governor Hochul and our many legislative champions, including prime sponsors Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas and Senator Michelle Hinchey. Their tireless advocacy, alongside support from hundreds of coalition partners, led us to this historic moment that will make a real difference for families across New York.”

“Congratulations to Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas and Senator Hinchey for this victory that is the result of years of relentless advocacy. We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul and the legislature for recognizing that feeding kids isn’t just compassionate – it’s essential to their success,” Melinda Person, New York State United Teachers president.

“For the first time, every student in New York State will be supported with a healthy school breakfast and lunch,” said NYS PTA President Patricia Frazier. “Parents and families are forever grateful to legislative leaders Assembly Member González-Rojas and Senator Hinchey for their determination and commitment to children, and to Governor Hochul and the legislature for their support of this priority. Together we will measure our mission for children!”

Kyle Belokopitsky, NYS PTA Executive Director said, “Today is truly a great day for children. Food insecurity, hunger, and stigma have negatively impacted our children and schools for far too long, and now, children can focus on what’s important – learning, play, and just being a child. We are so thankful for this day, and for leaders who work together to make every child’s potential a reality.”