Montana Bill Would Offer Free Meals For All Students In Need

• Due to rising grocery prices, food insecurity with children is an even bigger problem
• HB 551 would help children who get discounted meals
• In many low-income homes, the meal from school is the most nutritious of the day

What Is Montana House Bill 551?

From KTVQ: Sponsored by Representative Melissa Romano, Democrat Helena, House Bill 551 would offer free school breakfast and lunch to students who qualify for reduced priced meals.

MORE: Why Is The Legislature Trying To Impose Their Will On Montanans? 

From the Anna E. Casey Foundation, in Montana, about 45% of students receive discount prices for meals. According to the Daily Montanan, discount breakfast and lunch can run between 30-40 cents each meal.

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Why Montana House Bill 551?

Kim Popham,  Director of Public Policy and Research for the Montana Federation of Public Employees said this to the House Education Committee,

“In this committee, many of you often bring up the fact that our test scores are low, but let me remind you that if students don't have enough to eat, they cannot learn. Food insecurity has been an issue for a long time, but now more than ever, families are feeling the pinch due to inflation and rising costs.”

Collecting Lunch Debt Is Hard On Everyone Involved

Another reason for HB 551 is to stop schools from becoming debt collectors and to stop shaming children who have no control over their family finances.

Read More About The Many Shenanigans In The 2025 Montana Legislature

Representative Romano, who introduced the bill, recalls a student in her 4th grade class who cried and told her he wanted to go home because he couldn't afford to be in school. He and his 2 siblings had a lunch debt of over $300 and the school was about to send them to collections. Romano herself paid the debt, on a teacher's salary.

Although no one testified against the bill, this is the second time such a bill has been introduced.