Bill > SF4959

This bill modifies provisions related to school meals and establishes new aid programs for schools, all effective for fiscal year 2027 and later. It redefines "enhanced student eligibility standard" to include families with incomes between 185% and 500% of the federal poverty guidelines, which are the poverty thresholds published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The bill changes the "free school meals program" to the "enhanced school meals program," meaning schools will provide meals at no cost to students whose families meet this enhanced eligibility standard, in addition to those qualifying for free or reduced-price meals under federal guidelines. State aid amounts for school lunches are adjusted, and the bill clarifies that schools can set their own meal eligibility standards higher than the state's enhanced standard and use other school funds to cover those costs. Furthermore, the bill creates a new "school wellness and resiliency aid" to fund school counselors, psychologists, substance use disorder counselors, on-site mental health professionals, and staff training for mental health needs. It also expands funding for school-linked behavioral health grants, which help identify and diagnose mental health and substance use disorders in students and build school capacity to address these issues.