A South Dakota legislative committee is punting on a bill that provides free school breakfast and lunch for low-income students.
But the idea is not dead.
The House Education committee is sending it to the committee that sets the state budget, but without a recommendation to include it.
It’s the third in a row Sioux Falls Democrat Kadyn Wittman has brought the proposal. She said it’s the furthest the idea has gotten.
“And so, wanting to ensure that our most vulnerable families that fall between that 130 and 185 percent poverty line have one less thing that they need to worry about when thinking about their kid’s future,” Wittman said.
With federal matches, the bill would cost the state $616,000. Wittman said she hopes appropriators will hold onto the idea as they work through the budget.
Lawmakers are anticipating a tight budget this year. The budget committee will set revenue targets at the end of next week.
