CA Senator Wants to Expand School Summer Meal Programs to Families

State Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) has introduced legislation, SB 711, to help combat hunger in California via expansion of the state’s free summer meals program.

The bill allows caregivers of participating students to become eligible for free meals in the summer.

California has historically paved the way for school meal plans. In 2021, the state became the first to adopt two free school meals to all students attending public schools.

This initiative is also the first of its kind.

“More than one in four California households with children are food insecure. That amounts to more than 1 million households facing hunger in our state,” said McNerney, a former eight-term Democratic member of Congress. “SB 711 will help combat hunger by expanding California’s free summer meals program to ensure that parents, guardians, and caregivers can also access meals during summer months.”

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