A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Kentucky Department of Education to study expanding student access to free and reduced-price school meals.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Duvall

Direct KDE study to identify and recommend ways to expand student access to free and reduced-price meals, including eligibility, outreach, and potential reforms.

to Primary and Secondary Education (H)

#childrenandminors #education #elementaryandsecondary #finance #federallawsandregulations #poverty #reportsmandated #studiesdirected

Summary of HJR 88 (2026RS) — Kentucky

Purpose and intent

HJR 88 is a joint resolution directing the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) to study and evaluate options for expanding student access to free and reduced-price school meals.

The resolution aims to inform potential policy changes or recommendations by examining mechanisms that could increase participation in free and reduced-price meal programs for Kentucky students.

Key provisions and changes proposed

Directive to KDE: The bill directs the Kentucky Department of Education to conduct a formal study. Specific study components (as typically included in such resolutions) may include:

Assessment of current free and reduced-price lunch participation rates across Kentucky schools.
Identification of barriers to enrollment, eligibility, and participation (e.g., stigma, complex applications, eligibility outreach).
Review of administrative and operational processes for school meal programs (e.g., meal counting, verification, funding mechanisms).
Evaluation of alternative or streamlined approaches to determining eligibility (such as direct certification, universal free meals in some contexts, or simplified eligibility verification).
Examination of the potential fiscal impact on state and local school nutrition programs and funding sources.
Consideration of possible pilot programs or phased implementation strategies.
Recommendations for policy changes, program enhancements, or administrative actions to increase access.

Who or what would be affected

Primary stakeholders:

Kentucky Department of Education (receives the directive to study and report findings).
Local school districts and school nutrition programs, which would be involved in data collection and potential implementation of recommendations.
Students and families who would benefit from expanded access to free and reduced-price meals.

Indirect stakeholders:

State and local education budgets, dependent on any recommended funding or administrative changes.
Community organizations involved in outreach and enrollment assistance for meal programs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status and actions:

Introduced in the Kentucky House on March 2, 2026.
Referred to the Committee on Committees (H) on March 2, 2026.
Subsequently sent to the Committee on Primary and Secondary Education (H) on March 9, 2026.

Nature of measure:

As a joint resolution, HJR 88 does not itself enact new law but directs the KDE to study and report findings.
The resolution would likely require KDE to submit a final report or findings to the General Assembly by a specified deadline (the exact deadline would be determined in the text of the resolution or subsequent committee action), and may include interim updates.

Follow-up:

The General Assembly could consider legislation based on the KDE study results, such as policy changes to expand access, funding adjustments, or administrative reforms.

Practical implications

If the KDE study identifies feasible and cost-effective options, the bill could lay groundwork for future legislation or administrative reforms to expand access to free and reduced-price meals.

Potential outcomes include streamlined eligibility processes, greater use of direct certification, or pilots that move toward universal or near-universal meal access in certain settings.

The focus remains on reducing barriers to participation and ensuring eligible students receive meals, while assessing fiscal and operational feasibility.