WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 2251

Establishes the "Missouri Free School Meals Program" to reimburse schools for providing free breakfasts and lunches to all students

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Boyko and 5 co-sponsors

Missouri will reimburse schools for providing all students free breakfast and lunch, with state funds covering the difference between federal reimbursements and actual costs.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
#childrenandminors #education #elementaryandsecondary #elementaryandsecondaryeducation #dept.of #food
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2251

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes the Missouri Free School Meals Program to reimburse schools for providing free breakfasts and lunches to all students, regardless of individual eligibility under federal guidelines.
  • Aims to ensure every student in participating schools receives up to two federally reimbursable meals per day (maximum one free breakfast and one free lunch).

Key provisions and changes

  • Applicability and participants

    • Applies to any school district, public school, charter school, or private/parochial/religious school.
    • Schools that participate in the USDA National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and have an identified student percentage below the federal threshold for free meals under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) must participate in the Missouri Free School Meals Program (MFSMP).
    • Schools that participate in NSLP and have an identified student percentage at or above the CEP threshold must participate in CEP in order to participate in MFSMP.

  • Meals and reimbursement

    • Participating schools must:
    • Join the USDA School Breakfast Program and the USDA National School Lunch Program.
    • Provide all students, at no cost, up to two meals per school day (maximum one free breakfast and one free lunch).
    • The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will provide state aid to participating schools for each meal served (up to one breakfast and one lunch per student per day).
    • State aid per meal equals the difference between the applicable federal reimbursement rate for a free meal at that school site (as determined annually by USDA) and the actual federal reimbursement received by the school for that breakfast or lunch.

  • Administration and rules

    • DESE must promulgate rules to implement the program.
    • Rules are subject to the normal administrative rulemaking provisions and nonseverability language applies: if the rulemaking authority is found unconstitutional, the grant of rulemaking authority and rules after that point would be invalid.

Who is affected

  • Eligible schools participating in NSLP (including public, private/parochial, charter, and other school types as defined) that qualify under CEP rules or CEP-equivalent criteria.
  • School districts and schools will need to coordinate with DESE and USDA programs (Breakfast and Lunch Programs) to administer free meals and obtain state reimbursement.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative action history:
    • Referred to Emerging Issues (H) on May 15, 2026.
    • Read Second Time (H) on January 8, 2026; Read First Time (H) on January 7, 2026.
    • Prefiled in December 2025.
  • Implementation details:
    • Requires rulemaking by DESE to implement the program and reimbursement mechanics.
    • Specific annual determination of federal reimbursement rates for free meals at each school site by USDA will drive state reimbursement amounts.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Financial: Adds a state funding obligation to reimburse the difference between federal free meal reimbursement and actual federal reimbursement for each eligible meal, potentially increasing state aid to schools serving many free meals.
  • Access and equity: Creates universal access to free breakfasts and lunches for students in participating schools, potentially reducing stigma and improving attendance and nutritional outcomes.
  • Administrative: Increases compliance and reporting requirements for schools and DESE to coordinate with CEP rules and USDA reimbursement schedules.
  • Comparability to federal programs: Aligns with CEP concepts but adds a Missouri-funded top-up to cover gaps between federal reimbursement and actual costs.

Note: The bill is similar in concept to a prior measure (HB 873, 2025) and references CEP-based eligibility and the CEP framework in determining participation requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.