Sponsors
The bill expands and raises meal benefits for low-income children and provides short-term implementation support, while increasing federal program costs and shifting growing administrative expenses onto states and tribes over time.
Low-income children (including those who normally receive free/reduced-price school meals) will receive meal benefits during summer months and qualifying school-closure periods, providing food when school is not in session.
Low-income children will receive higher per-child benefits starting in 2025 to cover breakfast, lunch, and a snack each day, increasing daily nutritional support.
State and tribal governments receive temporary full federal reimbursement for administrative costs in FY2026, reducing near-term implementation and operating burdens.
State and tribal governments will face greater long-term fiscal responsibility because federal reimbursement for administrative expenses phases down to 50% by FY2031, increasing state/tribal budget pressure to maintain the program.
Taxpayers and the federal budget could face higher costs because the increased per-child benefit raises total federal program spending, which may require offsets or create budgetary pressure.
States that lack modern data systems may still experience delays or incur additional costs implementing the expanded coverage because the one-time $50 million grant may be insufficient to fully modernize systems nationwide.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Extends Summer EBT to school-closure periods, raises per-day benefits to at least the free-rate for three meals/snack, and funds implementation with a $50M transfer.
Introduced May 6, 2025 by Patty Murray · Last progress May 6, 2025
Expands the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC) so payments are available not only during summer months but also during school-closure periods of five or more consecutive weekdays (including remote/hybrid closures). It raises the required per-day benefit in 2025 and thereafter to at least the free-rate value for breakfast, lunch, and a snack, provides a one-time $50 million transfer to USDA for implementation work, and phases federal reimbursement of state/tribal administrative costs from 100% in FY2026 down to 50% by FY2031 and thereafter.