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Bill

A 4942

Expands school breakfast program to all schools with five percent or more of students eligible for free or reduced price meals.

2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires all public schools with 5%+ free/reduced-price meal eligibility to establish a school breakfast program, with planning, review, funding, and possible waivers.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
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Bill Summary · A 4942

Overview

A 4942 (Session 222) from New Jersey aims to expand the state’s school breakfast program. It requires public schools in districts where at least 5% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price meals to establish a school breakfast program. The bill sets timelines for planning and implementation, establishes a process for district plans and state reviews, and provides for waivers and state funding to support implementation.

Purpose and intent

  • To ensure that all eligible schools with 5% or more of students in the district are offering a school breakfast program.
  • To move from a more limited requirement (current law generally sets breakfast requirements at 20% eligibility for some schools) to a broader coverage threshold (5% eligibility).
  • To align breakfast program implementation with the state’s existing School Breakfast Program framework and reimbursement considerations.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment mandate:
    • Any public school in a local or regional district with 5% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price meals (as of the October prior school year) must establish a school breakfast program.
  • Planning requirements:
    • Districts must submit a plan for implementing school breakfast programs for each applicable school, consistent with the State Department of Agriculture’s School Breakfast Program rules.
    • Timeline for planning:
    • For schools with grades pre-K through 6, plans due by November 1, 2022.
    • For other schools, plans due by November 1, 2023.
  • Department review and recommendations:
    • The Department of Agriculture (in consultation with the Department of Education) will review each plan and may recommend changes to operate within federal and state reimbursement limits.
    • Districts will be notified of the review outcome within three months of plan submission, no later than February 1 after submission.
  • Implementation deadlines:
    • Schools with pre-K–6 by September 1, 2023.
    • Other schools by September 1, 2024.
  • Contingency and model plan:
    • If a district does not submit a plan on time, the department may provide a model plan for the district to follow to establish the program.
    • The model plan will include guidance on operating within funding constraints.
  • Waivers:
    • A one-year waiver can be granted by the Department of Agriculture if a district lacks staff, facilities, equipment, or funds to implement the program, upon a formal waiver request with justification and an action plan for the following year.
  • Funding:
    • The state will appropriate funds annually to the Department of Agriculture to cover the state share of school breakfast program costs.
  • Regulations:
    • The Department of Agriculture, with the Department of Education, will adopt regulations to implement the act.

Who is affected

  • Public school districts and their schools that meet the 5% eligibility criterion.
  • Students in those schools who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals (broader access to school breakfast).
  • Department of Agriculture (lead agency for program administration and funding) and Department of Education (interagency coordination).
  • School staff and facilities related to breakfast program operations (planning, implementation, and possible waivers).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Immediate effect: The act is stated to take effect immediately.
  • Planning deadlines:
    • November 1, 2022 for certain schools (pre-K–6).
    • November 1, 2023 for other schools.
  • Implementation deadlines:
    • September 1, 2023 (pre-K–6 applicable schools).
    • September 1, 2024 (other applicable schools).
  • Review process: Agricultural Department reviews plans within three months of submission and may require changes.
  • Waiver process: One-year waivers available with justification; districts must provide specified information to support the waiver.
  • Funding: Annual state appropriation to cover the state share of program costs.

Practical impact

  • The bill broadens the reach of the school breakfast program, potentially improving breakfast access for students in more than just high-poverty or high-need schools.
  • Districts have structured timelines to plan and implement, with state-backed guidance and possible waivers to address feasibility concerns.
  • Budget implications include ongoing state funding to support the program’s cost-sharing with districts.

If you’d like, I can convert this into an executive summary for a memo or provide a side-by-side comparison with current law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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