New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey A5658: Free breakfast-require schools to serve to all students in public schools
Status: In committee, October 19, 2026
Requires schools to serve free breakfast to all students in public schools.
What the bill says
An Act concerning the universal provision of free school breakfast to students, supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, amending various parts of the statutory law, and repealing section 1 of P.L.2018, c.25.
From the introduced text, October 19, 2026:
An Act concerning the universal provision of free school breakfast to students, supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, amending various parts of the statutory law, and repealing section 1 of P.L.2018, c.25. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. Section 1 of P.L.2022, c.104 (C.18A:33-3.2) is amended to read as follows: 1. As used in this chapter: "Categorically eligible" means that a student is homeless, is a migrant child, is a runaway child, is a foster child, or is a Head Start child, as defined in 7 C.F.R. Part 245, or is receiving assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or, to the extent that the United States Department of Agriculture authorizes the matching of Medicaid data to identify children who are eligible for free school meals, is a participant in the Medicaid program, and which student, by virtue of such status, is automatically eligible to be certified to receive free school meals under the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program, without first submitting an application or being subject to the federal income verification requirements established by 7 C.F.R. Part 245. "Community Eligibility Provision" means a type of …
Sponsors
- Craig J. Coughlin (D, 19) · primary sponsor
- Gabriel Rodriguez (D, 33) · primary sponsor
- Eliana Pintor Marin (D, 29) · primary sponsor
- Al Abdelaziz (D, 35) · primary sponsor
- Andrea Katz (D, 8)
- Marisa Sweeney (D, 25)
- Alexander Schnall (D, 30)
- Robert J. Karabinchak (D, 18)
- Sterley S. Stanley (D, 18)
- Ellen J. Park (D, 37)
- Balvir Singh (D, 7)
- Ravi S. Bhalla (D, 32)
Latest actions
- : INT 1RA REF ACF
Subjects: EDUCATION - SCHOOL BOARDS AND DISTRICTS
Common questions
- What is A5658?
- A5658 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Free breakfast-require schools to serve to all students in public schools.
- What does A5658 do?
- In its own words: An Act concerning the universal provision of free school breakfast to students, supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, amending various parts of the statutory law, and repealing section 1 of P.L.2018, c.25.
- What is the status of A5658?
- In committee as of October 19, 2026. Latest action: INT 1RA REF ACF (October 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored A5658?
- Craig J. Coughlin (D, 19), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for A5658?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A5658
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.