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Adds a new subparagraph (G) to 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1) establishing statewide free universal school meals demonstration projects, including definitions, selection of up to 5 States, timing and start-of-school-year requirements, special assistance payment rules for first and subsequent years, State implementation activities, and a required report to Congress.
Amends clause (iv) subclause (I)(bb) to replace 'as of April 1 of the prior school year' with a defined period beginning April 1 and ending the last day of that school year; adds a definition of 'covered school year'; sets the multiplier in clause (vii) to 2.5 for each school year beginning on or after July 1, 2025; modifies timing language in clause (x) subclause (I) by removing the phrase 'for the next school year if, not later than June 30 of the current school year,'; makes additional insertions in clause (x) subclauses (II)(aa) and (IV)(aa); and, as a conforming amendment, strikes subclause (III) of clause (xi).
Adds paragraph (17) to 42 U.S.C. 1758(b) creating a direct certification improvement grants and technical assistance program with definitions, grant authority and priorities, allowable uses, provisions for food distribution on Indian reservations, technical assistance, and funding/transfer directives.
Amends paragraph 9(b)(15) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to revise the definition of 'eligible child' to explicitly include children receiving Medicaid under 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i), to add a definition cross-reference for 'without further application', and to replace existing subparagraphs (B)–(H) with new requirements that States enter into agreements with State Medicaid eligibility agencies to directly certify Medicaid-enrolled children, without further application, for free or reduced-price lunches and breakfasts beginning with the 2025–2026 school year.
Adds a new paragraph (4) to subsection (b) requiring that, for a State identified under clause (ii)(I) of section 9(b)(4)(F) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(4)(F)), the report include a description of (A) the technical assistance provided to the State and (B) the progress made by the State in implementing the measures and meeting the goals described in items (aa) through (cc) of clause (iii)(II) of that section.
Makes it easier for eligible children to get free or reduced-price school meals by expanding automatic (“direct”) certification, requiring States to share Medicaid and Social Security (SSI) data with schools for certification, creating grants and technical assistance to raise direct-certification rates, adjusting the Community Eligibility Option multiplier, and launching up to five statewide pilot projects that provide free meals to all students at eligible schools. It also requires schools and districts to honor prior eligibility determinations and sets up a process for retroactive reimbursements and family refunds when students transfer between districts. The bill sets implementation timelines (many changes begin with the 2025–2026 school year), directs a $28 million transfer to support grants and technical assistance, and requires an evaluation of the statewide universal-meal demonstrations by September 30, 2030.
Strikes the word "and" at the end of paragraph (2) of Section 4301(b) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
Replaces the period at the end of paragraph (3) of Section 4301(b) with a semicolon and the word "and" (i.e., changes the period to "; and").
Adds a new paragraph (4) to Section 4301(b) that applies to a State identified under clause (ii)(I) of section 9(b)(4)(F) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and requires a description of specified items.
Requires, for the States described above, a description of the technical assistance provided to the State. This is item (A) of the new paragraph (4).
Requires, for the States described above, a description of the progress made by the State in implementing the measures and meeting the goals described in items (aa) through (cc) of clause (iii)(II) of section 9(b)(4)(F). This is item (B) of the new paragraph (4).
Who is affected and how:
Children and students: Low- and moderate-income children and other newly listed groups (foster, adoption, kinship, certain housing situations, SSI recipients) will be more likely to receive free or reduced-price meals without a separate household application, increasing meal access and reducing stigma and paperwork.
Families and households: Families may save on meal costs and avoid repeated applications. The bill requires refunds for fees paid when eligibility is later established or recognized after transfers.
Schools and school districts (local educational agencies) and K-12 schools: Will see higher automatic eligibility rates, potential increases in reimbursable meal counts and federal reimbursement revenue, but also greater administrative work initially to accept prior determinations, process retroactive claims, implement data interfaces, and complete certification procedures.
State education agencies and Medicaid eligibility agencies: Must enter data-sharing agreements and develop procedures and IT processes to exchange and match enrollment information for direct certification; this creates upfront workload and possible technology costs but may reduce application processing over time.
Social Security Administration and State partners: SSA must provide SSI data to support direct certification under specified agreements; States must manage confidentiality and matching requirements.
Tribal organizations and Bureau of Indian Education schools: Specifically included; can participate in direct certification and are eligible for grant priority if they have low direct-certification rates.
Federal government (USDA/Secretary): Will administer grant programs, award funds, select and monitor demonstration projects, and produce evaluation reports; the Secretary will also update program guidance and technical assistance.
Potential benefits:
Potential challenges and costs:
Overall effect: The legislation shifts toward broader automatic eligibility and universalism pilots, increasing federal role in enabling data-driven certification and providing targeted funding to raise direct-certification rates while imposing implementation duties on State and local education and health agencies.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by John Karl Fetterman · Last progress April 10, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced in Senate