Arkansas Senate Advances Bill to Fund Free School Breakfasts Using Medical Cannabis Revenue

LOS ANGELES- The Arkansas Senate has approved a bill to allocate revenue from medical cannabis taxes to fund free breakfasts for students statewide. The legislation, designated as SB 59, proposes supplementing federal meal programs with a state Food Insecurity Fund, financed by cannabis tax revenue, private grants, and the state’s general fund.

Introduced by Senator Jonathan Dismang, the bill aims to provide meals to all students, regardless of their eligibility under federal guidelines. Dismang emphasized the importance of addressing food insecurity among students, noting that a significant percentage face hunger daily.

The initiative received bipartisan support and aligns with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ recent State of the State address, where she highlighted the need to combat food insecurity through measures such as eliminating the grocery tax and providing additional support to needy families.

The bill passed the Senate with a 26-2 vote and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. If enacted, Arkansas would join other states exploring the use of cannabis tax revenue to fund social programs.