Bill > HR6795

This bill, also known as the School Modernization and Efficient Access to Lunches for Students Act of 2025 or the School MEALS Act of 2025, aims to improve how schools identify and enroll children eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program. It seeks to expand "direct certification," a process where schools automatically enroll students who are already receiving other public assistance, like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), without requiring separate applications. The bill proposes to give states and tribal organizations grants and technical assistance to enhance their direct certification systems, with priority given to those with lower direct certification rates. It also includes provisions to improve the "Community Eligibility Option," which allows high-poverty schools to offer free meals to all students, and clarifies how states should report on their progress in enrolling children who receive program benefits for free school meals. The bill allocates $28 million for these improvements, with specific amounts earmarked for programs on Indian reservations and for technical assistance.

Education

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6795/all-info