OLYMPIA—In a historic moment for Washington state, Governor Bob Ferguson and Representative April Berg (D-Mill Creek) have struck a deal to guarantee free breakfasts and lunches to all students enrolled in Washington public schools, regardless of household income, with the passage of the proposed Millionaires’ Tax, SB-6346.
“I will sign this version of the Millionaires’ Tax,” Governor Bob Ferguson announced today, March 6. “A new proposal from Rep. Berg ensures significant money goes to Washington families and small businesses. I’m pleased that a policy close to my heart is included: Free school lunch and breakfast for all Washington students. Hungry kids can’t learn, and this funding puts money back in the pockets of Washington families.”
The amendment introduced by Rep. Berg, who is Chair of the House Finance Committee, is intended to provide an estimated $140 million in gap funding to supplement federal funds for school lunches and breakfasts to ensure all lunches and breakfasts are free to K-12 students.
“I am excited to work with Senator [Marcus] Riccelli and Representative Berg on legislation to ensure that every student attending K-12 public schools receive free breakfast and lunch as part of their basic education,” Gov. Ferguson said during his first State of the State in January.
The new version of the Millionaires’ Tax will achieve a monumental promise to Washington students by Gov. Ferguson by making meals universally available at no charge, building on existing programs like House Bill 1238 which currently covers qualifying schools with higher percentages of low-income students — currently, 70% of students statewide.
The federal government funds school lunches and breakfasts in Washington State through reimbursements to schools and districts participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), administered by the USDA. These federal funds cover the vast majority of costs for meals served to students.
According to data from the Congressional Research Service, total federal spending on NSLP and SBP in Washington State was $379 million in Fiscal Year 2024, and is estimated to be approximately $400 million for Fiscal Year 2025.
When the Congress passed the President’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” or what Gov. Ferguson calls “The Big Betrayal Bill,” it opted to cut approximately $186 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding through 2034 across the country. Roughly one million Washingtonians rely on SNAP benefits each month to purchase food.
The One Big Beautiful Bill reduced SNAP benefits to the average household under the Thrifty Food Plan by about $56 per month and decreased the maximum allotment per household. For example, the maximum allotment for a family of four would drop from $975 to $848.
Back in August 2025, Gov. Ferguson and Congressman Larsen (WA-D02) handed out free lunches to kids at Lynnwood Elementary, before hearing firsthand — from Edmonds School District staff, parents and community leaders — how the “Big Beautiful Bill” could impact food insecurity in Snohomish County.
At the August event, Gov. Ferguson announced he wanted to make free lunch programs universal across Washington State and shared with the Lynnwood Times that “his team is still working out” the details on how to make it a reality.
“Even when times are challenging from a budget standpoint, I still believe in prioritizing the most important things,” Ferguson told the Lynnwood Times.
Now, it appears that Washington state is on the precipice of making this happen with the passage of the Millionaires’ Tax. However, the funds for free lunches to all students will not take effect until 2029; and the current amendment is not earmarking this money from the tax itself but rather draws from the general fund.
In the latest amendments to the SB-6346, the proposed Millionaires’ Tax, will:
- Expanding the Working Families Tax Credit to 460,000 additional households.
- Providing tax relief to nearly 140,000 small businesses.
- Exempting diapers, hygiene products, and over-the-counter medicines from sales tax. Invest significant funding into childcare and early learning.
- Providing free school lunch and breakfast for all Washington students.
“I strongly encourage the Legislature to pass this bill in its current form,” Gov. Ferguson stated in a post to X on March 6. “It represents a historic step forward in rebalancing our unfair system and making life more affordable for Washington families and small business owners.”
The Millionaires’ Tax, sponsored by Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) passed the Senate on February 16, with a vote of 27-22. The bill is awaiting a House vote, then would need a “concurrence” vote in the Senate to accept the amendments by the House. After final passage the bill will be sent to Governor Ferguson for signature. The deadline to pass the bill for the 2026 Legislative Session is March 12.
The Millionaires’ Tax imposes a 9.9% tax on individuals earning more than $1 million annually. Supporters cast the measure as a vital step toward fixing what they call a regressive tax system and funding essential services like education and health care, while critics warned it would hammer small businesses, drive away jobs, and set the stage for broader income taxes despite voters’ repeated rejections.
Author: Mario Lotmore
