FRANKFORT, Kentucky (WKYT) – Even though Kentucky’s legislature is not currently in session, that does not mean there is a standstill at the Capitol.
Lawmakers are pushing to expand free meal programs to students in the next legislative session, and they expect farmers to benefit as well.
“We may have different ideas about how we want to shape education and how we want to fund that education, but we know that we want to feed our children. We know that in order to get an education, they need a full stomach first,” said Rep. Shawn McPherson (R-Scottsville).
A bill is already being prepared for next year’s legislative session that would meet the food needs of Kentucky students while also meeting the needs of Kentucky farmers.
“If you can advocate for schools, for farmers, for education, and connect education and farmers, I think it’s a win-win situation for everybody,” said Rep. McPherson.
The bipartisan bill is sponsored in the House by Representatives Chad Aull (D-Lexington) and McPherson, and Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D-Louisville) plans to introduce 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 Senator Chambers Armstrong. “We’re hoping that by introducing this bill – hopefully it passes this year – we can get more people on board and get more people excited so that when we roll out the program a year from now, everyone is really well prepared and ready to take full advantage of it.”
The bill is designed to fill the gaps left by federal free and reduced-price meal programs by encouraging schools to partner with local farmers to fill students’ stomachs while the farmers harvest their valuable crops.
“We just want to provide them with a stable environment where they can say, ‘If you grow your product, we can get it from your field to your mouth,'” said Rep. McPherson.
Since no budget will be passed in the next legislative period, the initiators of the bill hope that the framework will be passed in such a way that it can be included in the state budget, which will be passed in 2026.
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