New Hampshire SB 517: relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost, and making an appropriation therefor.

Bill Text

SB 517-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

03/12/2026 1158s

2026 SESSION

 26-2070

 07/06

SENATE BILL 517-FN

AN ACT relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost, and making an appropriation therefor. 

SPONSORS: Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Lang, Dist 2

COMMITTEE: Education

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ANALYSIS

 This bill authorizes school boards to raise eligibility for free meals, requires the department of

education to reimburse schools who raise eligibility, and provides an appropriation therefor.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/26/2026 1158s 26-2070

 07/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost, and making an appropriation therefor. 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 New Paragraphs; Food and Nutrition Programs. Amend RSA 189:11-a by inserting after paragraph VIII the following new paragraphs:

 IX. Each school board may vote to raise eligibility for free meals to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Meals served to students who meet the federal income eligibility guidelines shall continue to be reimbursed in accordance with federal law and regulations. Meals not reimbursed in accordance with federal law and regulations shall be reimbursed by the state of New Hampshire at a rate that covers 50 percent of the difference between the federal rate for a free meal and a reduced price meal, or the difference between a free meal and a paid meal. The remainder of the costs shall be covered by the local district.

 X.(a) The department of education shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A requiring school districts that opt into the optional program pursuant to paragraph IX to offer both online and physical applications for free school meals.

 (b) The department of education shall provide administrative or technical assistance to school districts establishing an online application for free or reduced-price school meals, and whose school meal programs are approved to operate through the United States Department of Agriculture.

 (c) School districts eligible for administrative or technical assistance or funding under this section shall be those approved to operate federal school meal programs through the United States Department of Agriculture and accepted by the department of education to participate in this expansion of free and reduced lunch benefits.

 2 Appropriation; Department of Education; Food and Nutrition Program. 

 I. The amount of $107,000 is appropriated to the department of education for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, for administrative costs related to providing administrative or technical assistance to school districts establishing an online application for free or reduced-price school meals. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

 II. The amount of $250,000 is appropriated to the department of education for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, for disbursement to school districts to be reimbursed at a 50 percent rate pursuant to RSA 189:11-a, X(a) and to purchase software related to the establishment of an online application for free or reduced-price school meals. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. 

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.

 LBA

 26-2070

 3/16/26

SB 517-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1158s)

AN ACT relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost, and making an appropriation therefor. 

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

NHED Position Costs

$218K in FY 2027, $228K in FY 2028,

and $238K in FY 2029

NHED Reimbursements to Districts

Indeterminable - Up to Approximately $7M Per Year

(see methodology below)

 Funding Source(s)

General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0

$357,000

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

General Fund

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost