Feed Our Kids Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill would make breakfast and lunch free for every student enrolled in schools that participate in federal meal programs. No income verification or application forms would be required, making all children automatically eligible.
• Schools would be banned from "meal shaming" practices. They could not single out, segregate, or publicly identify students with unpaid meal bills, and they would be prohibited from collecting old meal debts from families.
• The federal government would reimburse schools for all outstanding unpaid meal debt as of the effective date. The USDA must set up this reimbursement program within 60 days and complete all payments within 180 days after the law takes effect.
• Schools that source at least 25% of their meal ingredients from local farms would receive bonus payments: an extra $0.30 per lunch, $0.21 per breakfast, and $0.08 per supplement, all adjusted annually for inflation.
• The bill sets national reimbursement rates of $2.80 per free breakfast and $4.63 per free lunch, both adjusted annually for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index for food away from home.
• Most provisions would take effect one year after enactment. The bill also extends free meals to summer food service programs and child care food programs, making all children eligible regardless of income.