Universal free school meals will be kept in the upcoming state budget that the Republican-led Michigan House and Democratic-controlled Senate are expected to approve this week and Gov. The bill will continue funding free school meals for all. “(The universal free meals) give us the ease of knowing our kids will be okay. Some school districts said they would not use their per-pupil or general fund dollars to pay for universal free meals if the line item were not included in the state budget. The universal free school breakfast and lunch program has been a Whitmer priority for the last two years since the COVID-era federal funding for universal school meals lapsed.