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Expands the summer EBT (electronic benefits transfer for children) program to cover school closure periods in addition to summer months and requires benefit values from calendar year 2025 onward to equal at least the free rate value of breakfast, lunch, and a snack for each eligible day. It changes federal administrative reimbursement to a phased schedule (100% in FY2026 down to 50% in FY2031+), requires USDA implementation grants for state data systems, and transfers $50 million from the Treasury to USDA on October 1, 2025 to support those grants (available until expended, subject to appropriations).
The bill expands nutrition support for low-income children during summers and school closures and helps states implement the program in the short term, but shifts growing administrative costs and budgetary risk to states over time and relies on appropriations for implementation funding.
Low-income children receive daily benefits during summer months and school-closure periods equal to breakfast, lunch, and a snack at the free rate beginning in 2025, reducing child food insecurity when school meals are unavailable.
State agencies and Tribal organizations get higher federal reimbursement for administrative costs (100% in FY2026, tapering to 50% by FY2031), lowering near-term state/tribal program operating costs and easing implementation burdens.
USDA receives $50 million for state implementation grants to build or upgrade data and administrative systems needed to run the expanded summer EBT, helping states and schools stand up the program more quickly.
State and Tribal governments will face growing administrative cost burdens after FY2026 as the federal reimbursement share phases down to 50% by FY2031, potentially straining state budgets or forcing trade-offs in services.
Expanding benefits to cover additional school-closure periods could substantially increase program costs and create budgetary pressure for taxpayers and state budgets if many closures occur.
The $50 million transfer for state implementation grants is subject to appropriations availability, creating uncertainty that could leave some states without needed funds to upgrade systems on time.
Introduced May 6, 2025 by Patty Murray · Last progress May 6, 2025