2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26102680D

HOUSE BILL NO. 832

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-79.7:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to academic year Governor's Schools; school meals.

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Patron—Pope Adams

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Referred to Committee on Education

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 22.1-79.7:1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-79.7:1. School meals; availability to students.

A. Each school board shall require each public elementary and secondary school in the local school division to participate in the federal National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and to make lunch and breakfast available pursuant to such programs to any student who requests such a meal, regardless of whether such student has the money to pay for the meal or owes money for meals previously provided, unless the student's parent has provided written permission to the school board to withhold such a meal from the student. The regional governing board of each academic year Governor's School shall (i) either (a) require such school to participate in the federal National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or (b) if facility limitations preclude participation in such federal programs, offer students, to the maximum extent practicable, lunch and breakfast that are of a comparable nutrition profile to meals that would be provided pursuant to such federal programs and (ii) make such lunch and breakfast available to any student who requests such a meal, regardless of whether such student has the money to pay for the meal or owes money for meals previously provided, unless the student's parent has provided written permission to the regional governing board to withhold such a meal from the student.

B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of a school board or, in the case of an academic year Governor's School, a regional governing board to collect payment for meals provided pursuant to subsection A, provided, however, that no such school board or regional governing board shall utilize a nongovernmental third-party debt collector to collect on such debt.