LINCOLN —Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill to expand free school lunches after securing a major private funding commitment to cover most of the cost. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh was tasked with finding outside support for her Hunger-Free Schools Act (LB966), which would extend free meals to students eligible for reduced-price lunches. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, led by Howard Buffett, agreed to fund the program for public school students for five years, covering the estimated $1.2 million annual cost. The unexpected agreement allowed the bill to advance to its final round of consideration late in the legislative session.

The proposal initially faced skepticism, with some lawmakers doubting private funding could be secured in time. Others raised concerns about excluding private school students and the possibility that the state would eventually bear the program’s cost. In response, an amendment was adopted to include eligible private school students, adding about $55,000 annually in state funding. Despite reservations, supporters emphasized the immediate benefit to roughly 20,000 students, and the bill moved forward with strong support, setting up a final vote.

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