Bill · S. 5460· Senate(119-S-5460)
Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 9/23/2026
- Last activity
- 9/23/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Martin Heinrich
- Cosponsors
- - 14 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2026. It was introduced in the Senate on September 23, 2026. The main goal of the bill is to increase the reimbursement rates for school meals. It amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Specifically, it adds money to the amount given for school lunches and school breakfasts. These changes are set to begin on October 1, 2026.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would children be better off under this?+6
Children will benefit directly from increased funding and improved nutritional support in school meals.
Would students be better off under this?+6
Students will receive better-funded and more robust meal programs during the school day.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
Low-income households benefit from enhanced financial support for free and reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill increases federal spending by raising reimbursement rates for school lunches and breakfasts.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Section 2(a): This section gives an additional 45 cents for each lunch served in school food authorities starting on October 1, 2026. This is a positive outcome because it increases the money available for school lunches.
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Section 2(b): This section gives an additional 28 cents for each free, reduced price, and regular breakfast served in school food authorities starting on October 1, 2026. This is beneficial because it provides more financial support for school breakfasts.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- There are no negative impacts or burdens for individuals or groups of people explicitly found within 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+6Good For Students+6Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Middle Class Households+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Public School Funding+5
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+2
- 9/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/24/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 11 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont