HI HCR111

Department of Education is urged to provide a detailed report to the Legislature on the true cost of producing school meals to ensure transparency and prevent unnecessary price increases

Report must include cost breakdown for 2024-2025 school year (current) and projected costs for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, covering ingredients (with local sourcing indication), operational costs, beverage costs, materials/supplies, and logistics/distribution

Report must include data on meals provided by category: full-price, reduced-price, free, meals subject to federal reimbursement, meals not subject to federal reimbursement, total meals, and total costs

Department proposes increasing student lunch prices from $2.50 to $4.75 for grades K-8 and $2.75 to $5.00 for grades 9-12 by 2028-2029, with current production cost cited at $9.00 per meal

Report must be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2026 Regular Session convenes