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Read. Follow. Verify.Connecticut bill requires free school breakfasts for all students and free lunches for eligible students
Last action · March 5, 2026: Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on AppropriationsSponsors: Aundré Bumgardner and 14 others
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What This Bill Proposed
Beginning July 1, 2026, eligible school districts in Connecticut must provide free school breakfasts to all students and free school lunches to students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Districts participating in federal meal programs that do not use the can receive state grants to cover these meals.
- Raised Bill 5214 was introduced during the February 2026 session of the Connecticut General Assembly and referred to the Education Committee. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
students
local or regional boards of education
Boards of education must provide free school breakfasts to all students and free lunches to eligible students while managing grant applications through the Department of Education.
Department of Education
The department must administer grants to eligible school districts for free school breakfasts and lunches.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
7 actions- Mar 5, 2026SenateFavorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 4, 2026HouseFavorable Change of Reference, House to Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 4, 2026Connecticut General AssemblyReported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
- Mar 2, 2026Connecticut General AssemblyFiled with Legislative Commissioners' Office
- Feb 27, 2026Connecticut General AssemblyJoint Favorable Change of Reference Appropriations
- Feb 19, 2026Connecticut General AssemblyPublic Hearing 02/23
Show 1 earlier action
- Feb 18, 2026Connecticut General AssemblyCommitteeReferred to Joint Committee on Education
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 10 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory Universal Breakfast
The bill shifts requirements for eligible school districts to universally provide breakfast regardless of individual family income status.
Connected Entities
Sources
cga.ct.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy35Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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