Bill > S2944

This bill, known as the "No Shame at School Act of 2025", amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to address issues of unpaid school meal fees and reduce stigma for students. The bill makes several key changes: first, it mandates (rather than making optional) that local educational agencies certify students for free or reduced-price meals; second, it allows retroactive reimbursement for meal claims going back to the start of the current school year; and third, it establishes comprehensive protections for "covered children" (students from households with unpaid meal fees). These protections include prohibiting schools from publicly identifying or segregating students with unpaid fees, preventing schools from withholding educational opportunities or grades, banning communication about meal debt directly to students, and ensuring that students cannot be stigmatized during meal service. The bill also requires schools to actively help households apply for free meal programs and restricts the use of debt collectors for school meal fee collection. The overall goal is to ensure that students receive meals without embarrassment or punishment, regardless of their family's ability to pay.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2944/all-info