CARE for Kids Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Hayes
Introduced
Summary
Expands direct certification so more vulnerable children automatically qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. The bill would broaden which children are directly certified, require schools to honor eligibility when students move between districts, and align school meal checks with Medicaid and related welfare programs.
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- Families and caregivers: Children placed with caregivers through State title IV Part B or E agencies, tribal child welfare agencies, or those receiving adoption assistance or kinship guardianship assistance would be covered for direct certification. The bill also includes children living in low-income or Native American housing programs with caregiving grandparents or older relatives.
- Students who move between districts: A student’s original eligibility determination must transfer to the new local educational agency and be honored. If the child began living with the caregiver within the prior 12 months and the caregiver has legal authority or custody, eligibility can be extended by 1 year.
- Schools and tribal programs: Schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education are added to direct certification authority and local educational agencies must accept transferred determinations.
- Medicaid alignment: The bill broadens Medicaid-based direct certification to include children aided under specific Medicaid provisions and those tied to title IV Part E or section 473(b) of the Social Security Act. This lets Medicaid and related welfare records more directly identify eligible students.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Automatic school meals for more kids
If enacted, more children would qualify automatically for free or reduced‑price school meals. This would include children in adoption assistance, kinship guardianship, or placements involving State or tribal child welfare. It would also cover families in certain low‑income housing or receiving Native American housing help. Schools run by the Bureau of Indian Education would be able to directly certify students. Children on Medicaid tied to SSI or foster/adoption aid could be matched and certified without a family application.
Meal eligibility follows kids when they move
If enacted, when a child changes school districts, the new district would have to honor the prior meal eligibility decision. If the child began living with a grandparent or relative in the past 12 months, eligibility would be extended for one extra year. The caregiver would need legal documents to make school or health decisions, or have (or be seeking) legal custody.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hayes
CT • D
Cosponsors
Bacon
NE • R
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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