School MEALS Act of 2025
Rep. Hayes Introduces Bill to Help More Students Get Free School Meals Automatically
The School MEALS Act of 2025 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently introduced and sent to the House Committee on Education and Workforce for review. No further actions are scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
Most bills introduced in the House face a long road to becoming law, especially if they require new spending and lack a large group of bipartisan supporters.
Key Points
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Students in low-income families would benefit the most. Many children who currently qualify for free school meals but are not enrolled due to paperwork hurdles would gain automatic access. Schools in high-poverty areas also get more flexibility to offer free meals to all students through an improved Community Eligibility Provision.
Programs
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articles
Federal bill aims to expand universal free school meal access
Congresswoman Jahana Hayes and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar have introduced the School MEALS Act of 2025, which aims to expand free school meals access by making changes to Direct Certification and the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The bill provides $25 million for program improvements.
Bill expanding access to free meals in schools continues unprecedented progress
While focusing on state-level legislation (HB 1082), the report highlights the broader movement to expand free school meals. It notes that federal efforts like the School MEALS Act aim to reduce administrative hurdles and ensure students in high-need districts are fed and prepared for success.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
School MEALS Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(1)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.