Governor Lombardo Fact Checks NV Dems Over ‘Free’ School Meals Legislation

During the last legislative session, Democratic Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui (AD-41) sponsored AB 319, a “free” universal breakfast and lunch program for all Nevada students, irrespective of family income. The bill was drafted to extend the expiration of the “free” school meal program funded by federal waivers granted during the pandemic for all pupils.

Jauregui’s “free” program featured a $43 million price tag funded by taxpayers through a one-time appropriation to the Department of Agriculture for the 2024-2025 school year. The original bill included a $100 million appropriation over two years, but was reduced via amendment.

Although the bill was easily passed by the Democratic majority, the bill was vetoed by Republican Governor Joe Lombardo. In his veto message, Lombardo claimed that up to 73 percent of universal school meals are discarded, and wrote, “Just as I removed the COVID-19 state mandates and ordered state employees back to pre-pandemic office operations, school districts should similarly return to normal school operations.”

This food fight from the last legislative session is now served as a 2024 campaign centerpiece as Democratic Assemblywoman Shea Backus (AD-37) has reintroduced the bill for the 2025 legislative session and Nevada Democrats vie to secure supermajorities in both chambers to override Lombardo’s veto power. During a press conference, democrats charged that Lombardo was “stealing our kids’ lunch money.”

Due to the “misinformation” in their messaging, today Lombardo issued an open letter (see below) to Nevada parents to set the record straight on “free” school meals:

Unfortunately, there has been an increase in misinformation about the availability of free school meals ahead of the 2024-2025 school year. Much of the misinformation stems from partisan attacks over my veto of Assembly Bill 319, which would have extended the free meal federal waiver program for the 2024-2025 school year through $43 million of one-time funds.

With 80.6 percent of students automatically eligible through their school’s CEP status, direct certification for students enrolled in a federal benefits program, and applications available for families to apply for free or reduced-price meals, my administration is confident that every student in need can receive free school meals. Outside of our concern for using one-time money to fund a recurring meal program, my administration believed it was time – now four years after the pandemic – for the state to transition back to pre-pandemic school meal operations.

I think most Nevadans would agree that politics has no place in our school cafeterias. Families deserve confidence in our school meal programs, and students deserve easy access to nutritious meals at school.

They deserve to know the truth.

“Feeding all kids shouldn’t be a partisan issue yet callous, MAGA Republicans have made it one,” Assembly Leader Steve Yeager (AD-9) responded in a statement.

THIS … this is what should have happened in NV… AB319 was vetoed instead. @nvassemblydems @NVSenateDems @nvdems @sandra4nv @SteveYeagerNV https://t.co/XoDDGqO81Y

— Natha Anderson (@voteNatha) August 6, 2024

Yet, feeding all kids irrespective of their family’s income is a waste of taxpayer dollars, and a one-time appropriation will balloon into a recurring program with a much larger price tag. Although Democratic Assemblywoman Natha Anderson gives a shout-out to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, she neglects to note that the universal “free” breakfast and lunch program he signed into law comes with an unexpected and estimated price tag of $480 million over two years.

As reported by the Minnesota Public Radio, “The program was slated to cost about $400 million over two years, but the forecast indicates it will be about $80 million more expensive due to costs of food and lower federal participation in the meals program than officials had anticipated.”

Nevada Democrats easily passed AB 319’s $43 million one-time appropriation last legislative session, but the Democratic majority on the Interim Finance Committee refused to approve Lombardo’s proposed $3.4 million to protect Opportunity Scholarships for hundreds of low-income students.

These low-income students may not get a quality education in Nevada, but if Democrats secure a veto-proof supermajority, they are promising every kid a “free” breakfast and lunch in the failing public school system.