The move is another flip flop for Hochul, who let proposals for universal free school lunches from the legislature die in state budget talks for at least the last two years.

Currently, 90% of students have access to free school meals. With the additional funding, 300,000 more students would gain access to free meals, bringing the total number of students eligible for meals to 2.

Every student in New York could get free breakfast and lunch at school under a proposal announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul

New York State is looking to cover school meals for students, according to a new initiative. This proposed program is part of Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State, which will ensure that over 2.7 million public school students will receive free breakfasts and lunches at school.

On Long Island, a universal meals program would help an estimated 260 schools and 135,000 students, according to Hunger Solutions New York.

Currently, eligibility for free school meals depends on income-based criteria. USA TODAY photographer captures wildfire devastation from a helicopter in Malibu Japanese companies are stealing talented Gen Z out of college,

Every student in New York could get free breakfast and lunch at school under Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal. Nearly a decade ago, intense protests over racial injustice rocked the University of Missouri’s flagship campus,