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NebraskaLB966109th Legislature 1st and 2nd SessionslegislatureWALLET

Adopt the Hunger-Free Schools Act and provide for an appropriation

Sponsored By: Machaela Cavanaugh

Signed by Governor

Education Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Free school meals for eligible students

Beginning in the 2026–27 school year and through 2031–32, Nebraska runs the Hunger-Free Schools Pilot Program. Qualified schools that take part in federal meal programs and do not use community eligibility can apply. The Department of Education picks participating schools each year. At a participating school, students who qualify for reduced-price meals get breakfast or lunch at no cost during the school day.

Funding and rules for school meals pilot

The state pays schools the gap between the federal free and reduced-price meal rates for each eligible meal. Payments use the number of eligible meals served in the second preceding school year. Public schools are paid from the Hunger-Free Schools Cash Fund; nonpublic schools are paid from the General Fund. To get paid, a school must serve eligible breakfasts or lunches and report meal counts as the Department requires. The law creates the Hunger-Free Schools Cash Fund and allows the state to invest its balances. It appropriates $55,638 in General Funds and $1,151,180 in Cash Funds for FY2026–27, and the same for FY2027–28, for state aid only; no salary or per diem spending is allowed from these amounts. The State Board of Education can set rules, and sections 79-10,137, 79-10,138, and 79-10,139 are repealed.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Machaela Cavanaugh

    legislature

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 216 • No: 50

legislature vote • 4/24/2026

Vote

Yes: 36 • No: 12 • Other: 1

legislature vote • 4/24/2026

Vote

Yes: 37 • No: 4 • Other: 8

legislature vote • 4/10/2026

Final Reading

Yes: 38 • No: 11

legislature vote • 4/8/2026

Vote

Yes: 37 • No: 4 • Other: 8

legislature vote • 4/8/2026

Vote

Yes: 36 • No: 12 • Other: 1

legislature vote • 4/2/2026

Vote

Yes: 32 • No: 7 • Other: 10

Actions Timeline

  1. Presented to Governor on April 10, 2026

    4/17/2026legislature

  2. Approved by Governor on April 16, 2026

    4/17/2026legislature

  3. Passed on Final Reading 38-11*-0

    4/10/2026legislature

  4. President/Speaker signed

    4/10/2026legislature

  5. Kauth FA622 withdrawn

    4/8/2026legislature

  6. Cavanaugh, M. AM3120 adopted

    4/8/2026legislature

  7. Passed over

    4/8/2026legislature

  8. Bosn AM3143 filed

    4/8/2026legislature

  9. Bosn AM3143 adopted

    4/8/2026legislature

  10. Advanced to Enrollment and Review for Engrossment

    4/8/2026legislature

  11. Placed on Final Reading with ST99

    4/8/2026legislature

  12. Enrollment and Review ST99 filed

    4/8/2026legislature

  13. Enrollment and Review ST99 recorded

    4/8/2026legislature

  14. Placed on Select File

    4/7/2026legislature

  15. Cavanaugh, M. AM3120 filed

    4/7/2026legislature

  16. Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial

    4/2/2026legislature

  17. Placed on General File

    2/24/2026legislature

  18. Hunt priority bill

    2/19/2026legislature

  19. Notice of hearing for February 17, 2026

    2/6/2026legislature

  20. Referred to Education Committee

    1/14/2026legislature

  21. Kauth FA622 filed

    1/13/2026legislature

  22. Date of introduction

    1/12/2026legislature

Bill Text

  • Introduced

    4/17/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Slip Law

    PDF

  • Final / Enacted

    PDF

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