GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL PROVIDED FUNDING FOR UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.

ACCORDING TO THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, THE FUNDING WILL HELP PROVIDE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR OVER 2.7 MILLION STUDENTS IN DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

NOW THIS IS A POPULAR POLICY MEASURE BACKED BY BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THE FUNDING, WHICH IS $340 MILLION IN THE PROPOSAL, HAS HUNGER ADVOCATES AND LAWMAKERS EXCITED HEADING INTO BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

FOR MORE ON LAWMAKERS' PLANS TO SAFEGUARD THE FUNDING IN THIS YEAR'S FINAL ENACTED BUDGET, HERE'S OUR ELISE KLINE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR'S FISCAL YEAR 2026 EXECUTIVE BUDGET ADDRESS LAST WEEK, ADVOCATES AND LAWMAKERS GATHERED WITH CHEER ON THE NEW YORK STATE CAPITOL STEPS TO CELEBRATE A PROPOSAL TO MAKE SCHOOL MEALS FREE FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSES $340 MILLION LUNCH AND BREAKFAST FREE IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

FOR MANY ADVOCATES THIS IS A WIN-AFTER MANY YEARS OF PUSHING FOR UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS.

ANDRES VIVES, CEO OF HUNGER SOLUTIONS NEW YORK, SAYS THE FUNDING WILL GREATLY IMPACT THE 2.7 MILLION STUDENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> YOU CAN'T TEACH A HUNGRY CHILD AND YOU KNOW HAVING MEALS PROVIDED IN SCHOOL-A FREE BREAKFAST, A FREE LUNCH GETS US SO MUCH FURTHER.

OUR CHILDREN GET TO GO TO SCHOOL WITHOUT STIGMA, THEY GET TO RECEIVE A MEAL.

THEY GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL DAY WITH FUEL FOR THEIR MINDS.

>> VIVES ADDS THIS PROPOSAL WILL ALSO SUPPORT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO DO WHAT THEY LOVE: >> FEED KIDS AND NOT BE DEALING WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN OF DEALING WITH ALL OF THE PAPERWORK THAT GOES ALONG WITH SCHOOL MEAL DEBT AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTS AND CALLING FAMILIES TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET PAID, YOU KNOW, SO IT IS REALLY GOOD FOR THE STATE.

GOOD FOR THE STATE.

IT SAVES FAMILIES ABOUT $2,000 PER CHILD PER YEAR.

>> IN NEW YORK CITY, SCHOOL MEALS HAVE BEEN FREE SINCE 2017.

SOME STUDENTS SAY THEY HAVE SEEN THE POSITIVE DIFFERENCE THIS INITIATIVE HAS HAD ON STUDENTS OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.

17-YEAR-OLD FAITH JONES, A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AT BROOKLYN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL AND A YOUTH FELLOW WITH COMMUNITY FOOD ADVOCATES OF NYC, SAYS SHE HAS WATCHED FRIENDS OF HERS STRUGGLE WITH AFFORDING LUNCH AND GOING HUNGRY-BUT WHEN SCHOOL MEALS BECAME UNIVERSAL DOWNSTATE SHE SAYS THE CAFETERIA CULTURE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED.

>> YOU SEE THE STUDENTS GO INTO LINE-ESPECIALLY BROOKLYN TECH WE HAVE 6,000 STUDENTS, I THINK WE'RE THE LARGEST HIGH SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY-- wE ALL GO INTO THE LINE, WE ALL GRAB OUR LUNCH.

AND I THINK ONE THING THAT IS SO NOTABLE IS NOBODY IS COMPLAINING ABOUT BEING HUNGRY WHEN THEY'RE IN THE CAFETERIA.

NOBODY IS SAYING THEY CAN'T GET LUNCH BECAUSE EVERYONE IS ABLE TO ACCESS TO THAT LUNCH.

>> JONES ADDS FREE SCHOOL MEALS HELP STUDENTS ENJOY LUNCH RATHER THAN STRESS ABOUT IT.

SOT [JONES] "I REALLY DO SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS FOR EVERY STUDENT THEY GET TO MORE SO ENJOY THEIR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AND I HOPE THAT FOR ALL NEW YORK STATE STUDENTS," [ELISE] THERE ARE FEW ISSUES THE UNITE BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

BUT, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR YEARS.

HOWEVER, NOW THAT THE GOVERNOR PUT IT IN HER STATE OF THE STATE AND HER BUDGET PROPOSALS-THE PATH FORWARD IS MUCH CLEARER.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER MATT SLATER, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF PUTNAM AND WESTCHESTER COUNTIES, HAS ADVOCATED FOR UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

HE SAYS AS A DAD HE UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR KIDS TO BE SET UP FOR SUCCESS.

WHILE THE INITIATIVE HAS BEEN FUNDED PARTIALLY IN THE LAST TWO BUDGETS, IT HAS NEVER BEEN FULLY FUNDED.

NOW THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR THIS ISSUE ASIDE RIGHT OFF THE BAT, LAWMAKERS FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.

SLATER SAYS THIS STATE FUNDING IS IMPERATIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR STATE OR FEDERAL SCHOOL MEAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

>> THAT NUMBER THAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED GETS US TO EVERY STUDENT IN EVERY SCHOOL.

IN MY DISTRICT, WE ARE SHORT TWELVE SCHOOLS-EIGHT THOUSAND KIDS THAT CURRENTLY DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM AND THE ALLOCATION FROM THE GOVERNOR DOES GET US ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THERE.

SO I THINK RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS IS TO GET THE BALL INTO THE END ZONE.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL REQUIRES ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TO STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR FAMILIES INCOME.

THE STATE IS ESSENTIALLY PAYING THE STUDENTS' SHARE OF COSTS FOR ALL MEALS SERVED TO STUDENTS NOT RECEIVING FREE MEALS.

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DIRECTOR, BLAKE WASHINGTON, THE STATE CAN AFFORD INITIATIVES LIKE THIS ONE BECAUSE THE STATE'S FISCAL HEALTH IS SOUND.

WASHINGTON HIGHLIGHTED $21.1 BILLION IN STATE RESERVES AND A $5.3 BILLION SURPLUS FROM INCOME TAXES.

THE PROPOSAL WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO SHARE COSTS WITH A STATE SUBSIDY PROGRAM CALLED THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION-WHICH ALLOWS PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS, BASED ON A FEDERALLY DETERMINED THRESHOLD NEED OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TO SERVE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT NO COST TO ALL ENROLLED STUDENTS.

THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE COMMISSIONER BARBARA GUINN SAYS THE STATE HELPING TO SHARE COSTS MAKES SURE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS' BUDGETS ARE COVERED.

>> SCHOOLS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT BUT NOT NECESSARILY FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MEALS THAT ARE PROVIDED AT SCHOOL AND THEN, OF COURSE, SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISIONS SO IN BOTH INSTANCES THE STATE IS STEPPING IN.

>> GUINN ADDS THIS PROGRAM MEANS STUDENTS ARE WELL-FED AND READY TO LEARN.

>>FROM A FAMILY STANDPOINT, IT OBVIOUSLY HELPS REDUCE COSTS THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE NEED TO SPEND ON PROVIDING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AND ALSO PROBABLY HOPEFULLY SAVES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME IN THEIR DAY TO NOT HAVE TO PREPARE THOSE MEALS.

SO, IT'S GOOD FOR FAMILIES FROM AN AFFORDABILITY STANDPOINT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT'S GOOD FOR THE CHILDREN SO AGAIN THEY'RE READY TO LEARN-WHEN CHILDREN ARE READY TO LEARN OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GOING TO DO BETTER IN SCHOOL AND HAVE BETTER PROSPECTS FOR THEIR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL MEANS STUDENTS WHO DON'T ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO FREE SCHOOL MEALS THROUGH THE CEP OR THE NATIONAL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAM WILL BE FED.

>> THIS YEAR WILL ADD ON THE BALANCE OF THE SCHOOLS BRINGING IN ABOUT ALMOST AN ADDITIONAL 300,000 STUDENTS WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE THEN TO RECEIVE FREE MEALS.

AGAIN MAKING IT UNIVERSAL, THERE'S NO QUESTION REDUCES THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDREN WHO MAY OTHERWISE BE RECEIVING MEALS IN A LIMITED CAPACITY WITHIN THE SCHOOL.

>> ASSEMBLY MEMBER JESSICA GONZALEZ-ROJAS, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING QUEENS ECHOED THE COMMISSIONERS POINTS SAYING THIS FUNDING WILL HELP CLOSE THE GAPS AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS IN PARTS OF THE STATE LIKE LONG ISLAND, HUDSON VALLEY AND WESTERN NEW YORK.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IS EVEN IN DISTRICTS OR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DEEMED 'WEALTHY' THERE ARE WORKING-CLASS FAMILY MEMBERS, THERE ARE IMMIGRANT FAMILY MEMBERS, THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE THEIR PARENTS MAY BE ABLE TO FILL OUT ADDITIONAL FORMS, BURDENSOME FORMS.

OFTEN LANGUAGE BARRIER IS AN ISSUE.

>> LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HIGHLIGHT MANY STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL MEAL TICKETS ALSO FACE STIGMA.

AT A RECENT PRESS CONFERENCE, STATE SENATOR DEAN MURRAY, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING PARTS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY, SAYS WHEN HE WAS A STUDENT WITH A FREE SCHOOL MEAL PASS HE WAS OFTEN TEASED.

>> I WOULD GET MY RED TICKETS THAT I WOULD TAKE IN AND IN THE MORNING I WOULD SHOW MY TICKET TO GET MY BREAKFAST AND MY LUNCH AND THEN THE KIDS STARTED NOTICING THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THEM.

THEN THEY FOUND OUT WHY BECAUSE I WAS THE POOR KID.

'WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR YOU?'

THIS, THAT, THE OTHER.

THE TEASING GOT SO BAD AND THE BULLYING-- STOPPED EATING.

I JUST THREW THE TICKETS AWAY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE KIDS THAT ARE DOING THAT NOW.

>> MURRAY SAYS BY MAKING SCHOOL MEALS UNIVERSAL EVERY STUDENT WILL BE ON EQUAL FOOTING.

>> EVERYONE GETS IT.

NO ONE TO BE BULLIED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY EVERY CHILD GETS FED AND THAT'S OUR GOAL.

WITH THAT, I HOPE EVERYONE WILL UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE PUSHING SO HARD TO GET THIS DONE.

>> SOME LAWMAKERS SAY THE MAIN PUSHBACK AGAINST FULLY FUNDING THIS INITIATIVE IN PREVIOUS STATE BUDGETS IS THE COST.

SOME LAWMAKERS TOLD WMHT CONCERNS HAVE COME UP AS PART OF THE LARGER SPENDING CONVERSATION OF THE STATE BUDGET BUT THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY DIRECT OPPOSITION TO THIS MEASURE.

MOVING FORWARD LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE TO SAFEGUARD THE 340 MILLION DOLLAR PROPOSAL FROM POTENTIAL CUTS-WHICH CAN HAPPEN DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS AS PRIORITIES ARE WEIGHED.

>> THE PUSHBACK ALWAYS IS THE COST, BUT I THINK WE'VE REALLY MADE A STRONG EFFORT AND HAVE REALLY DEMONSTRATED THE FACT THAT THIS INVESTMENT-YES THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED TO IT BUT THIS INVESTMENT WE'RE MAKING IS IN OUR KIDS.

IF WE'RE NOT FEEDING HUNGRY CHILDREN THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING UP HERE.

AND SO WE'VE REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB BRINGING REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TOGETHER ON AN IMPORTANT ISSUE LIKE THIS.

>> ASSEMBLY MEMBER ED RA, A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING NASSAU COUNTY AND A RANKING MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, SAYS THE BUDGET PROCESS MOVING FORWARD-PUBLIC HEARINGS, NEGOTIATIONS AND VOTING ON BUDGET BILLS-SHOULD MOVE SMOOTHLY FOR THIS PROPOSAL.

>> THE COST-YES THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SCHOOL AID NUMBER IT'S REALLY A TINY FRACTION.

SO, I THINK EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE AND IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY IS ON BOARD WITH.

>> ASSEMBLY MEMBER STEVE OTIS, A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, ECHOED RA'S MESSAGE-EMPHASIZING THE SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE.

>> NEGOTIATION IS A KEY PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS-EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING ELSE BUT I'M FAIRLY OPTIMISTIC-THE STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS AND JUST KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR THE EDUCATION PROCESS AND FOR THE HEALTH OF KIDS.

>> OTHER DEMOCRATS IN THE ASSEMBLY, THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR PUT THIS MEASURE IN HER BUDGET PROPOSAL MEANS THE MEASURE WILL VERY LIKELY HAVE THE SUPPORT IT NEEDS TO BECOME OFFICIAL.

>> NOW THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT IT IN THE BUDGET, WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IT'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

IT'S BEEN IN THE ONE-HOUSE BUDGETS IN THE ASSEMBLY, IT'S BEEN IN THE ONE-HOUSE BUDGETS IN THE SENATE SO I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT IT'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE ONCE THE INK IS DRY ON THE BUDGET.

>> GONZALEZ-ROJAS ADDS THIS BUDGET MEASURE THIS YEAR COULD SOLIDIFY IT TO BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF THE STATE BUDGET IN YEARS TO COME-EVEN WITH A POTENTIAL CHANGE IN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP NEXT YEAR.

>> I REALLY ANTICIPATE THIS SOLIDIFYING THIS MEASURE IN YEARS TO COME.

I DON'T SEE HOW A GOVERNOR ROBS FOOD OFF THE TABLE OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.

SO, THIS IS SOMETHING, AGAIN, THAT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND WE REALLY ANTICIPATE IT BEING A REALLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND ONE WE'LL IMMEDIATELY SEE THE BENEFITS OF.

>> SOME POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S INITIATIVE THIS YEAR IS ALL PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S AFFORDABILITY FOCUS FOR THIS YEAR.

>> SHAWN DONAHUE, A POLITICAL PROFESSOR AT SUNY-BUFFALO, SAYS THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL IS RIGHT IN LINE WITH HER AFFORDABILITY AGENDA FOR THIS YEAR.

>> DONAHUE ALSO SAYS THIS MEASURE SEEMS TO HAVE GAINED MOMENTUM NATIONALLY OVER THE PAST YEAR.

>> IT SEEMED LIKE IT GOT A BIG BOOST LAST YEAR WHENEVER TIM WALZ BECAME THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR VICE PRESIDENT BECAUSE MINNESOTA HAD PUT THIS IN PLACE.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF BLUE STATES, SO STATES WHERE THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNORSHIP HAVE PUSHED THROUGH.

>> IF THIS MEASURE IS ADOPTED IN THE FINAL STATE BUDGET, NEW YORK WILL BECOME THE NINTH STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO MAKE SCHOOL MEALS UNIVERSALLY FREE.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL IS ONLY ONE STEP IN THIS PROCESS TO OFFICIALLY MAKING MEALS UNIVERSALLY FREE IN SCHOOLS.

THE NEXT STEP AT THIS POINT IS BUDGET HEARINGS WHERE LAWMAKERS CAN QUESTION EXPERTS, LEADERS, AND ADVOCATES ON ISSUES LIKE THIS ONE.

BUDGET HEARINGS STARTED THIS WEEK AND ARE SET TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF FEBRUARY.

ELISE KLINE, NEW YORK NOW.

[ MUSIC ] >> AND FOR MORE ON THE FUNDING FOR UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.