Minn. House votes to kick in school lunch money

The Minnesota House has voted unanimously on a bill guaranteeing children don't get denied a school lunch for lack of money.

The bill passed Thursday gained traction amid reports that some districts denied lunches to kids who couldn't afford them or supplied those children with a lesser meal than peers.

Related: No lunch money, no lunch allowed in 46 districts

Rep. Yvonne Selcer says the vote should "make the statement that no child shall go hungry in a Minnesota school because of the inability to pay."

Most subsidies for school lunches come from the federal government, but the state adds a small share. Children on reduced-price meal programs still have a gap of 40 cents between the subsidies and the typical hot lunch cost.

A similar bill is traveling through the Senate. Gov. Mark Dayton is also on board.

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