Sponsors (45)
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Multiple amendments to subsection (b) of 42 U.S.C. 1758: (1) changes an income threshold in paragraph (1)(A) from '130 percent' to '224 percent' and strikes the third sentence; (2) replaces paragraph (5) with a new discretionary certification provision allowing local educational agencies to directly certify children based on documentation from State or local agencies for specified categories and requires State agreements with agencies conducting Medicaid eligibility determinations for certification under subparagraph (A)(v); (3) updates cross-reference in paragraph (6)(A) to include paragraph (15); (4) revises the definition of 'eligible child' in paragraph (15)(A)(i) to include children eligible for Medicaid due to receiving SSI or State supplementary benefits, adoption assistance payments under section 473(a), kinship guardianship assistance under section 473(d), and household members of such children; and (5) amends paragraph (9)(C) to add a retroactivity requirement and to define 'meal claim.'
Amends section 11(a)(1)(F) of 42 U.S.C. 1759a by replacing clause (vii) with a new multiplier provision setting the community eligibility program multiplier to 2.5 for each school year beginning on or after July 1, 2025.
Adds at the end of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) a new section (designated 30) that repeals the reduced price lunch program and prohibits reimbursements for reduced price lunches; also includes conforming amendments striking specified occurrences as listed in the bill.
Makes conforming amendments to the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) by striking specified occurrences as listed in the bill (the bill text states 'by striking each place it appears' in multiple numbered items).
Repeals the reduced‑price school breakfast and lunch programs and stops federal reimbursements for those reduced‑price meals. At the same time it expands access to free school meals by raising the income threshold for free meals, increasing the Community Eligibility Program multiplier, and letting schools directly certify many children using Medicaid and other records instead of a separate application. Schools must also revise past meal claims retroactively when a child’s eligibility is approved. The program and reimbursement changes apply to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2025. The bill also updates the Child Nutrition Act and National School Lunch Act language to remove references to the repealed reduced‑price programs and makes conforming edits to other provisions. It shifts how eligibility is documented and how reimbursements are claimed and adjusted, creating new operational and data‑sharing requirements for schools and state agencies without specifying new appropriations.
Adds a new subsection (f) to Section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 stating that the reduced price breakfast program is repealed and that the Secretary may not provide reimbursements for reduced price breakfasts under that section.
Makes conforming amendments to the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 by 'striking each place it appears' in five specified locations (listed as items (1) through (5)).
Further conforming amendments to Section 4(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966: (1) in paragraph (1) — (A) in subparagraph (B), strike the second sentence; (B) strike subparagraph (C); and (2) in paragraph (2), strike subparagraph (C).
Adds a new section (numbered 30) to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act stating that the reduced price lunch program is repealed and that the Secretary may not provide reimbursements for reduced price lunches under that Act.
Makes conforming amendments to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act by 'striking each place it appears' in five specified locations (listed as items (1) through (5)).
Who is affected and how:
Children and families: More children will qualify for free school meals, reducing out‑of‑pocket meal costs and stigma for eligible students; families at low to moderate incomes who previously qualified only for reduced‑price meals will either become eligible for free meals (if they meet the raised free threshold) or otherwise lose the reduced‑price option if not reclassified.
K‑12 schools, school food authorities, and local educational agencies: Must implement new direct‑certification processes (linking with Medicaid/other government records), update student eligibility tracking systems, and change accounting practices to support retroactive reimbursement claims. These operational changes increase administrative workload and may require new IT and staff resources.
State agencies and USDA: State agencies that operate child nutrition and Medicaid programs must coordinate data exchanges and verification procedures; USDA will need to update guidance, oversight, and claim processing rules. The USDA’s payment flows to schools will change because of retroactive adjustments and expanded free‑meal reimbursements.
Community Eligibility Program (CEP) participants: Raising the CEP multiplier increases the share of students treated as directly certified for CEP calculations, likely expanding benefits for participating schools and increasing federal reimbursements to those schools.
Budget and funding considerations: Expanding free eligibility and enabling retroactive reimbursements will raise program costs; the provided text does not include offsetting appropriations. That creates potential fiscal pressure on USDA and could require future appropriations or budget adjustments. The administrative requirements also function as federal mandates on schools and states without specified new funding, which could strain local budgets.
Privacy and data use: Direct certification using Medicaid and other records increases data‑sharing between agencies and schools, creating potential privacy, consent, and data‑security considerations that districts must manage.
Overall effect: The bill simplifies access for many children to receive free meals and reduces the need for household applications, but it shifts significant operational burdens and retroactive payment mechanics to school systems and state agencies and may increase federal meal program costs absent new appropriations.
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Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced April 7, 2025 by Josh S. Gottheimer · Last progress April 7, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House