Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton wants Ohio to provide free breakfast and lunch to every public school student.
Acton is running against Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in a tight race to replace term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine. During a campaign stop on Oct. 15, Acton told reporters she would push to provide free school meals statewide. All students received free meals for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic through federal funding.
"One of the things I'm doing right away, by the way, is free breakfast and lunch for every kid in Ohio. It is not that expensive," Acton told reporters at B&K Smoke House in Olde Towne East.
Current state and federal policy provides
meals for students from lower-income households. In February 2025, a bipartisan pair of lawmakerspitched restoring free school breakfast and lunch for all students. That bill allocated $300 million per year to pay for the meals.
The concept is popular. One 2024 poll found two-thirds of Ohio voterssupport free breakfast and lunch in public schools. Being well fed reduces truancy, improves learning and reduces the stigma for students from lower-income families already receiving free or reduced-price meals.
Sen. Bill Blessing, R-Colerain Township, said free school meals would help families save money and improve educational outcomes, while not costing the state too much money. "I don’t understand why this is such a political flashpoint," Blessing told the statehouse bureau.
Despite that, Ohio lawmakers did not include funding for universal school meals in the two-year state budget passed in June 2025. Senate Bill 109 has not received a hearing. Ramaswamy's running mate, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, has influence over which bills advance in that chamber.
The issue of free lunch is personal for Acton, who experienced homelessness as a child. "As a kid who didn't get enough to eat and stood in food lines, I understand what that means," she said.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@usatodayco.com or @jbalmert on X.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Amy Acton wants free school meals for every Ohio student
