ATLANTA – State Representative Imani Barnes (D-Tucker) recently introduced House Bill 60, also known as the “Healthy Start Act,” which would provide additional funding to offer healthy school lunches at no cost to students eligible for reduced-price meals under federal and state guidelines.
“Introducing House Bill 60, the Healthy Start Act, is a critical step toward ensuring that every student in our public schools has access to the nutritious meals they need to succeed academically,” said Rep. Barnes. “By providing funding to cover the cost of meals for eligible students, we are investing in the health and future of our children. I look forward to partnering with my colleagues to advance this meaningful legislation through the legislative process.”
HB 60 would allow the State Board of Education to determine the amount of state funds needed to provide a no-cost, state-wide school lunch program for students eligible under federal and state guidelines. The Fiscal Year 2025 budget includes $6.3 million in state general funds to provide breakfast to 32,243 students and lunch to 63,792 students, which equates to 5,802,175 breakfasts and 11,482,652 lunches throughout the school year.
HB 60 has been assigned to the House Education Committee. To read the full text of the bill, please click here.
Representative Imani Barnes represents the citizens of District 86, which includes a portion of DeKalb County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves on the Higher Education, Public and Community Health and Technology and Infrastructure Innovation committees.
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