HB 3435 Oregon House · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to school meals; declaring an emergency.

Summary

Phases in the requirement that school districts offer lunch and breakfast to students at no charge, regardless of household income. Provides exceptions. Requires school districts that make breakfast accessible at a school site to make breakfast accessible at the school site after the beginning of the day. Provides exceptions. Prescribes nutrition standards for reimbursable meals that are paid for by state sources. Directs the Department of Education to apply for statewide participation in federal programs and projects that expand the availability of free or reduced price meals. Appropriates moneys to the Department of Education from the General Fund for the purposes of paying any costs owed by parents or guardians for costs previously incurred for a reimbursable meal and assisting school districts in purchasing or upgrading equipment necessary to comply with the expanded provision of free lunches and breakfasts. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2025 Last action Jun 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → A-Engrossed · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to expand universal free school meal programs by requiring districts to offer free meals to all students rather than just those from low-income households, and to clarify meal service requirements. The changes strengthen the mandate for free breakfast and lunch while maintaining existing reimbursement mechanisms.

Scope change

The bill now requires all students to receive free meals regardless of household income, removing the previous income-based eligibility threshold of 300% of federal poverty guidelines for districts that do not offer universal programs.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the requirement from offering free meals only to students from households with incomes at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines to offering free meals to all students regardless of income.

REQUIREMENT

Modified language to require schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students instead of making it optional for districts to choose between universal programs or income-based programs.

TECHNICAL

Added references to exceptions and clarifications about meal service timing and nutrition standards in the summary section.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

In committee upon adjournment.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education with subsequent referral to Ways and Means.

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Introduced

First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

lower

6 primary · 12 co-sponsors