The House of Delegates voted 89-9 to pass the West Virginia Feed to Achieve Act.
The bill requires all schools to try to maximize school meal participation in order to take greater advantage of federal money for meals.
It also sets up foundations in every county that are to collect private donations to fund expanded meal programs.
Del. Ray Canterbury said there was no such thing as a free lunch and perhaps children should work for their meals.
That provoked impassioned criticism from other lawmakers who said that the very least government can do is feed children.
