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The One Big Beautiful Bill Act threatens to strip free school meals from over one million Georgia children.

The administration announced the signing of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a federal budget law that overhauls the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). While the law does not directly change school meal programs, it creates a ripple effect that may strip free meals from over one million Georgia students. Under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), schools with a high percentage of students on SNAP or Medicaid can provide free meals to all students automatically. As SNAP enrollment drops due to the new law's tightened requirements, many schools risk losing their CEP status, forcing families to submit individual applications to remain eligible for subsidized meals. For families who lose these automatic benefits, the cost of school lunches can be significant. A report from the Center for American Progress estimates that a Georgia family with two children could face an additional annual cost of $1,134 for school lunches. Educators and policy experts warn that students who are hungry cannot focus or perform well in the classroom, emphasizing that school meals are essential for academic success.

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