Some Ky. lawmakers push to expand free meal programs

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) – While Kentucky lawmakers are not currently in session, that does not mean the Capitol is at a standstill.

Lawmakers are pushing to expand free meal programs to students in the upcoming session, and they say farmers will also benefit.

“We might have different ideas on how to educate and how to pay for that education, but we know that we want to feed our children, we know to educate them they need a full stomach first,” said Rep. Shawn McPherson (R-Scottsville).

Legislation to address food needs for Kentucky students, tied with the needs of Kentucky farmers, is already in the works for next year’s legislative session.

“If you can work for the schools and for the farmers and education and tie education and the farmers together, then I think that’s just a win-win for everybody,” said Rep. McPherson.

The bipartisan legislation is being sponsored by Rep. Chad Aull (D-Lexington) and Rep. McPherson in the House of Representatives and Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D-Louisville) is planning to file a similar bill in the other chamber.

“Everyone recognizes that agriculture is really important in Kentucky and anything we can do to support our small farmers is a really, really good investment of our state dollars,” said Sen. Chambers Armstrong. “Our hope is that by introducing this legislation, hopefully passing this legislation this year, we can get more folks on board and more folks excited so that when we roll out the program a year from now, everyone is really geared up and ready to take full advantage of it.”

The proposed bill looks to fill in gaps left by federal free and reduced meal programs. Schools are asked to pair up with local farmers to fill the stomachs of students, while growers harvest their treasured crops.

“We just want to give them a stable environment to say, ‘if you grow your product, we can get it from your field to their mouth’,” said Rep. McPherson.

Since the upcoming legislative session is not a budget-passing year, sponsors of the legislation say their hope is to get the framework passed so it can be included in the state budget that will be passed in 2026.

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