Bill · H.R. 6795· House(119-HR-6795)
School MEALS Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 12/17/2025
- Last activity
- 12/17/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Sponsored by
- Jahana Hayes
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "School MEALS Act of 2025," aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. It focuses on improving direct certification for student school lunches. The legislation establishes grants for State agencies and Tribal organizations to improve direct certification rates. It also provides funds for food distribution programs on Indian reservations. Additionally, the bill modifies the Community Eligibility Option and updates specific timeframes and counts related to student identification.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would children be better off under this?+5
The bill increases access to school meals for children through improved certification processes.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
The bill targets the improvement of food assistance access for low-income families and those on Indian reservations.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+5
The bill allocates at least $2,000,000 specifically to improve certification for food distribution programs on Indian reservations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Access through Grants: The bill provides $28,000,000 to help State agencies and Tribal organizations improve the rate of direct certification (Section 3, B). This includes paying for technology, technical assistance, and the implementation of new or revised certification systems (Section 3, B, iii).
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Support for Indian Reservations: The Secretary is directed to use at least $2,000,000 of the transferred funds to help States and Tribal organizations establish or improve direct certification rates for children receiving assistance through food distribution programs on Indian reservations (Section 3, B, C and E).
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Prioritized Assistance: Priority for receiving grants will be given to States and Tribal organizations that currently have the lowest rates of direct certification (Section 3, B, ii).
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Updated Certification Timelines: Changes to the Community Eligibility Option allow for counts of identified students to be conducted starting on or after April 1 of a school year (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+5Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Native Americans+5Good For Students+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5Improves Poverty Reduction+4
- Education And Technology
- Increases Public School Funding+3
- 12/17/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Ilhan OmarDemocrat · Minnesota