H.R. 7259: Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2026, proposes changes to how military families qualify for free or reduced-price meals in schools under federal nutrition programs. The main objectives of the bill are as follows:

Direct Certification for Military Children

The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to submit a report by October 1, 2026. This report will assess the feasibility and costs associated with a system that allows children from military households to be automatically certified for free or reduced-price lunches and breakfasts. This system aims to eliminate the need for additional applications for these services, streamlining the process for military families.

Options for Implementation

The report must evaluate several options for the direct certification process, including:

• The utilization and sharing of data that is already collected to determine the basic needs allowance for military personnel under federal law.
• The proposal to exclude non-service member income when calculating the household income for the purpose of determining eligibility for meal programs.

Exclusion of Housing Allowance from Income Calculation

The bill also amends existing provisions in the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. Specifically, it alters the regulations concerning how household income is calculated by removing the basic allowance for housing (BAH) from the income assessment. This change is intended to ensure that military families do not have their housing allowance counted against their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals, which could improve access to nutrition assistance for these households.

Conclusion of Provisions

By implementing these changes, the bill aims to improve the accessibility of meal programs for children of military service members, ensuring they receive necessary nutrition without the burden of additional financial assessments that may disqualify them based on household income calculations that include housing allowances.

Relevant Companies

None found