S. 3157: School Meals for Healthy Kids Act of 2025

This bill, known as the School Meals for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to enhance the process for certifying children for free or reduced-price meals in schools. The key components of the bill are as follows:

Use of Medicaid Data for Certification

The bill allows state agencies to utilize Medicaid program data to directly certify children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches and breakfasts. This capability is established for the school year starting July 1, 2024, and states that have been using this data may continue to do so in subsequent school years, based on the conditions that were in place at the beginning of that school year.

Community Eligibility Provision Methodology

The legislation clarifies the methodology for schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Specifically:

• The bill will codify existing methods that are in effect as of the date the bill is enacted.
• A change in the calculation method is made: the multiplier for determining eligibility for free meals will be set at 1.6 for each school year.
• One particular provision regarding eligibility criteria is removed from the existing regulations.

The overall purpose of these modifications is to streamline the certification process, potentially increasing access to school meals for eligible students and improving nutritional support for children from low-income families.

Implementation Timeline

The new provisions will be applicable starting from the school year that begins on July 1, 2024, giving states time to amend their processes accordingly.

Potential Impact

The bill anticipates a more efficient method for providing school meals through updated certification practices and standardized calculations, potentially benefiting many students across the nation.

Relevant Companies

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