Governor Kathy Hochul announcing her fifth agenda as part of the 2025 State of the State Address, to ensure students in school receive free breakfast and lunch. 

According to the governor's office, free school meals are estimated to save families around $165 per child each month. 

As stated in a press release from the governor's office, the 2025 Fiscal Year Enacted Budget included $180 million to help incentivize eligible schools to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, allowing all students in participating schools to eat breakfast and lunch at no charge regardless of their families’ income. It will expand eligibility to approximately 300,000 students.

“The research is clear: good food in the lunchroom creates good grades in the classroom,” Governor Hochul said. “I'm proposing free school meals for every student in New York – giving kids the sustenance they need and putting more money back in parents' pockets.