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HB 5118

Provide for statewide participation in the federal Community Eligibility Provision for its duration

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kayla Young

West Virginia would join the federal Community Eligibility Provision to provide free meals to all students in qualifying high-poverty schools statewide.

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Bill Summary · HB 5118

Legislative bill overview

HB 5118 would authorize West Virginia to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a program that provides free meals to all students in schools with high concentrations of low-income families, regardless of individual family income. The bill establishes statewide participation in this federal initiative for as long as the program remains available.

Why is this important

The CEP eliminates meal application processes and stigma associated with free/reduced lunch programs, potentially improving student nutrition, academic performance, and attendance. It also simplifies school cafeteria operations by eliminating income verification procedures. For families, it removes administrative barriers and financial uncertainty around children's meal access during the school day.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost-sharing and state funding: The bill doesn't clarify what portion of non-federal costs West Virginia will cover or whether schools must contribute local funds, raising questions about fiscal sustainability
  • School eligibility thresholds: Determining which schools meet the poverty concentration requirements to participate could create equity questions between districts
  • Administrative burden: Schools must still handle meal counting and nutrition standards compliance; unclear how much additional administrative work this creates for already-stretched school budgets

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

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