A new bill filed by State Rep. Ya Liu in the North Carolina House seeks to ensure free nutritious meals for students in public schools across the state, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 713 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates the provision of free breakfast and lunch to students in public schools across North Carolina, following federal guidelines established by the USDA. The State Board of Education will allocate funds for these nutrition services based on evaluations of the school food authorities, accounting for factors like school size and past expenditures. The board must ensure fair distribution of funds and issue allocations at the start of each fiscal year, with up to 10% reserved for later distribution. Schools must strive to use high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. An appropriation of $144 million from the General Fund will support these services for the 2025-26 fiscal year, and if necessary, additional funds may come from State Aid for Public Schools. Section 2 takes effect July 1, 2025, with the rest applicable starting the 2025-26 school year.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Allen Buansi proposed the most bills (18) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Liu graduated from North Carolina Central University with a JD.
Liu, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 21st House district, replacing previous state representative Raymond Smith Jr..
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ya Liu, Allen Buansi, Amos L. Quick, III, and Cecil Brockman | HB 713 | 04/02/2025 | Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch. |
| Ya Liu, Edward C. Goodwin, and Maria Cervania | HB 704 | 04/02/2025 | Establish AAPI Heritage Commission. |
| Ya Liu, Brian Turner, Jordan Lopez, and Maria Cervania | HB 730 | 04/02/2025 | Comprehensive State Communications. |
| Ya Liu, Brenden H. Jones, Julia C. Howard, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 734 | 04/02/2025 | Modernize Debt Settlement Prohibition. |
| Ya Liu, Brian Biggs, Laura Budd, and Sarah Stevens | HB 431 | 03/18/2025 | Preventing Deed Fraud. |
| Ya Liu and Frank Iler | HB 444 | 03/18/2025 | Homeowners Association Reform Bill. |
| Ya Liu, Ray Pickett, Tricia Ann Cotham, and Zack Hawkins | HB 378 | 03/11/2025 | Leon’s Law (Dual Enrollment Info Parents). |
| Ya Liu, Matthew Winslow, Mike Schietzelt, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 361 | 03/10/2025 | Funds to Fight Deed and Title Fraud. |
| Ya Liu, Jennifer Balkcom, John R. Bell, IV, and Julia C. Howard | HB 187 | 02/24/2025 | Credit Union Update. |
