Advocates launch campaign to fully fund Colorado's universal school meals program

Parents, educators and anti-hunger advocates gathered at a community farm in Lakewood on Tuesday to launch a campaign in support of two Colorado ballot measures that would fully fund a voter-approved universal school meals program.

Propositions LL and MM would shore up funding for the Healthy School Meals For All program, which was created by Colorado voters in 2022 but has exceeded cost projections in its first years of operation. Referred to voters by the state Legislature, the two propositions are the only statewide measures that will appear on Coloradans’ ballots in the off-year election in November.

“We’re here today because we believe that children shouldn’t have to worry about the cost of lunch, or not having access to one because their family can’t afford afford to pay for it,” said Erika Cervantes, director of organizing and community partnerships for Hunger Free Colorado.

Colorado voters approved Proposition FF in 2022 to create the school meals program, which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of family income. It was funded by limiting income tax deductions for filers earning over $300,000 per year. The measure authorized the state to collect up to $100 million in new revenue through this reduced deduction.​ A 1992 constitutional amendment known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights​ requires tax hikes to be approved by voters.




https://coloradonewsline.com/2025/09/09/campaign-colorado-universal-school-meals-program/