New Jersey
Failed to pass School Meals for All legislation
Expanded Access
36.10%
Failed to pass School Meals for All legislation
Expanded Access
36.10%
Failed to pass School Meals for All legislation
Expanded Access
36.10%
Policy Landscape and Our Work
Although a 2022 bill for universal free school meals failed, New Jersey expanded access to free school meals with the passage of the Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act in January 2024. The law raised the income threshold for free meal eligibility from 199% to 224% of the federal poverty level, allowing families of four earning up to $67,200 to qualify. This expansion, which took effect in the 2024–2025 school year, extends free breakfast and lunch to over 60,000 additional students in public and participating non-public schools. Fully funded by the state, this policy builds on earlier efforts to ensure more children have access to daily nutritious meals at school. FoodCorps actively participates in the NJ School Meals for All Steering Committee which is working with partners and legislative partners on strategies to increase access to free meals for more students in school year 2025-2026 and beyond.
Take Action
Legislative & Advocacy Resources
- Key Players & FoodCorps Friends
- Legislative Champions
Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin
- Legislative profile
Explore our Partner Sites in New Jersey
See partner sites*Source: NCES
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FoodCorps is a non-partisan, non-profit organization. FoodCorps staff and FoodCorps AmeriCorps members may not participate in advocacy or lobbying activities during work time charged to an AmeriCorps funded grant or while earning AmeriCorps service hours. No federal funds were used to prepare or distribute advocacy content.
Last updated June 06, 2025