Utah Senate sends free school lunch bill to governor

SALT LAKE CITY — The latest version of a bill that proposes free school lunch for kids currently getting reduced price lunches is headed to the governor’s desk.

HB100 passed the state Senate unanimously on Thursday. It passed the Utah House on a vote of 47 to 24.

Related: Could a new bill be the answer to Utah’s school lunch debt?

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, said this free school lunch bill could feed 40,000 Utah children. It would also address the nearly $2.5 million in school meal debt every year.

“So instead of paying off debt we want to get to the heart of that issue, where we’re not trying to reach parents who can afford their lunch and they’re just not paying it,” Clancy said. “We want to hit those student who are really in need.”

Opponents questioned need for another free school lunch program

Some of those opposed to HB100 previously told the House Education Committee they were concerned about duplicating existing programs.

“The best way to address these kids is to use programs that already exist in the school,” said Neil Rickard, with Utahns Against Hunger, “like free and reduced meals, and summer EBT to meet people where they are rather than creating a compounded burden.” 

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“We have a lot of programs already,” said Diane Livingston with the Worldwide Organization for Women,” … (and) we need to look and make sure that the needs really are there. We have a lot of other programs. If they’re not working, let’s fix them.”

The latest version of the free school lunch bill reduced the fiscal note so that it now asks for $2.5 million in the 2026 fiscal year.