GOP leader rebuffs fully funding school meals in Ohio budget

A GOP chief fully takes up school meals on the state level in the Ohio budget

By: Sarah Donaldson | Statehouse news office

Posted on:
Wednesday March 12, 2025

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Columbus, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) – Although the defenders are launching lobbying of Ohio legislators to finance free school meals for kindergarten students in the 12th year in the biennial state budget, a key legislative leader has already rejected the idea.

The president of the room, Matt Huffman (R-Lima), sai

d that last week, too many Ohio parents could and should pay for school meals of their child, which is why he will not justify a subsidy more state of a universal program. Some parents said Huffman, do not want their children to eat what is provided in school.

“There is a huge amount of waste in this program. I have experienced this over the years with schools, like: “Do we have to give them green beans if they don’t eat green beans?” And the answer is yes and it’s a bad idea, ”said Huffman.

The legislators of the aisle, as well as some in Huffman’s own caucus, do not agree on the issue. The Democrats did pressure for universal funding in the previous budget, said the Chief of the House of the Allison Russo Chamber (D-Upper Arlington).

“Everything we can do to solve this problem in our schools and make sure that our students are well nourished, have nutritious meals during their school, is beneficial for all students,” said Russo on Wednesday.

Universal breakfast and lunch would cost $ 300 million a year, according to Hunger Free Schools Ohio, a coalition that includes CVS Pharmacy, Kroger and Ohio Education Association. Education is about to obtain 23.4 billion dollars in the Biennial Dewine budget – depositing this price at around 2.5% of state education funds if it were to be in good shape. Breakfast alone is referring to $ 50 million a year.

Dozens of high school students with red shirts “Hungry Kids cannot learn” have come down to Ohio Statehouse to do the business last week. Some testified before the Chamber’s Education Committee, which aligned hours of testimony on the wider budget.

A previous analysis of the Legislative Services Commission for the Educational Party of the Budget shows even with the current financing formula included, there are in fact reductions in traditional public schools, but nearly $ 500 million more for good and charter schools.

Governor Mike Dewine must sign the Ohio budget before July 1, the first day of the year 2026-2027. The room is likely to send its version to the Senate next month.