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HR6795119th CongressWALLET

School MEALS Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would strengthen direct certification so more children could be automatically enrolled for free school meals. It would create grants and technical assistance, adjust the Community Eligibility Option timing and counts, raise a direct-certification threshold from 10 to 20, and require clearer state reporting on progress.

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  • Families and students: More children would be directly certified for free school meals, reducing paperwork for families and making school meals easier to access.
  • State agencies and Tribal organizations: Establishes Direct Certification Improvement Grants and Secretary-provided technical assistance for States and Tribal organizations. On October 1, 2025, $28.0 million would be transferred from Treasury to fund the program, with at least $2.0 million for reservation food distribution grants and up to $3.0 million for technical assistance.
  • Schools and local educational agencies: Changes Community Eligibility Option timing so eligible student counts begin April 1 for the prior year through the school year end. Raises an applicable direct-certification metric from 10 to 20 and adds requirements that States report the technical assistance received and progress toward implementation.

*Provides a $28.0 million Treasury transfer to fund the grant and assistance program, including specified set asides for reservation grants and technical help.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

More free school meal access, new rules

This bill would push States and Tribal organizations to finish direct-certification improvements within 3 school years after the measures are described. It would create a $28 million grant program (transferred Oct 1, 2025) to help States and Tribes upgrade technology, give technical help, and coordinate with other benefit programs; at least $2 million must go to FDPIR grants and up to $3 million may be used for technical assistance. The bill would change how schools count students for the Community Eligibility Provision by using a period starting April 1 of the prior year, which could change which schools qualify for free meals. It would also raise a numeric performance threshold from 10 to 20 and add new State reporting on technical help and progress.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

CT • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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