Contact: Maria Fernanda “Mafe” Oribio, mafe@apccollective.com
AUSTIN, TEXAS [September 3, 2025] – Starting today, Texas students who are eligible for reduced-price meals at school will receive school breakfast and lunch at no cost for the next two school years (2025-2026 and 2026-2027). As a result of No Kid Hungry Texas’ advocacy during the 89th Texas Legislature, lawmakers approved a $19.8 million budget appropriation to cover the cost of reduced-price meals for the upcoming biennium.
The latest expansion of no-cost school meals builds upon the $6.6 million appropriation garnered during the 88th Legislative Session by No Kid Hungry Texas, which made school breakfasts available at no cost to reduced-price eligible students. This year, an additional $13.2 million was garnered to also cover the cost of school lunches.
“We’re thrilled that Texas lawmakers have not only protected existing no-cost breakfasts, but bolstered the program to include lunches as well, significantly expanding access to nutritious meals for Texas kids ,” says Stacie Sanchez Hare, Director of No Kid Hungry Texas. “We’re especially grateful for the support from our legislative champions, Representatives Toni Rose and Armando Walle, whose advocacy will ensure parents and caregivers make fewer impossible choices between buying groceries and paying for rent, utilities, or gas.”
“This funding is a win for our students, our schools, and our communities,” says Toni Rose, Texas Representative (District 110). “Every dollar is a direct investment in Texas students, helping them stay fueled, focused, and ready to learn throughout the school day.”
During the 2024–2025 school year, the elimination of reduced-price breakfast provided no-cost meals to 46,000 Texas students each school day. With no-cost lunches now in effect, 101,000 students who previously paid for reduced-price meals will now be able to eat at no charge.
According to a 2024 survey by No Kid Hungry Texas, 77% of Texans report greater difficulty affording groceries, with public school families experiencing the greatest challenges. The latest statewide funding represents a significant step in reducing this burden and supporting household food security.
“The cost of reduced-price meals five days a week, especially for families with multiple kids, can really add up and create a strain for working families,” said Armando Walle, Texas Representative (District 140). “I applaud my colleagues for taking action to strengthen this program, supporting the health, education, and future of our state.”
No Kid Hungry Texas partners with school districts and community organizations across the state, as well as advocates for smart policy solutions that ensure all Texas children are nourished year-round. To learn more about the organization’s grantmaking and advocacy, visit https://state.nokidhungry.org/texas/.
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About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids in the United States live with hunger. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.
