Relates to certain rates of payment for services provided by assisted living programs

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Didi Barrett and 8 co-sponsors

NJ public and nonpublic schools must follow the strict USDA NSLP/SBP nutrition standards (2020–2025 guidelines) for all reimbursable meals, starting 2025–26.

REFERRED TO HEALTH

Summary — Assembly Bill No. 1406 (1R)

Note: The bill text and committee statements provided concern school meal nutrition standards (National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program). The bill title shown in the header (about assisted living payment rates) appears to be metadata misaligned with the texts below; this summary reflects the bill documents provided about school nutrition standards.

Main purpose

Require New Jersey public schools and nonpublic schools that participate in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) to follow the most stringent USDA nutrition standards for reimbursable school meals, preserving tougher federal requirements adopted in recent rulemaking rather than allowing schools to use relaxed standards.

Key provisions

Schools required:

All public schools, and nonpublic schools participating in NSLP or SBP, must comply with the nutrition standards for NSLP and SBP adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as set out in the applicable USDA final rule(s).
All reimbursable meals under NSLP and SBP in the State must meet those USDA nutrition standards (or any future standards that are more stringent).

Standards specified by committee amendment:

The bill references the USDA final rule titled “Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans” as codified in 7 C.F.R. Parts 210, 215, 220, 225, and 226.

Effective date:

As amended, the requirement first applies beginning with the 2025–2026 school year.

Fiscal note:

The bill has not been certified as requiring a fiscal note.

Who is affected

Directly: Public school districts and nonpublic schools in New Jersey that participate in the federal NSLP and SBP; school food service directors, food service vendors, and school nutrition staff.

Indirectly: Students who receive reimbursable school meals (~those served by NSLP/SBP in the State), and local procurement and meal-planning operations.

Rationale and context

Sponsors and committee statements cite concerns about child and adolescent obesity and note that stricter 2012 USDA nutrition regulations (part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act reforms) reduced calories, sodium, and increased whole grains, fruits/vegetables, and low-fat milk offerings.

The bill responds to USDA actions that would relax some standards (e.g., whole-grain, sodium, flavored milk rules) by directing New Jersey schools to retain the more stringent federal standards.

Procedural status (selected)

Introduced: January 9, 2024.

Reported from Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee with amendments: May 8, 2025.

Transferred to and reported by Assembly Budget Committee with further amendments: June 26, 2025.

Substitute action: Substituted by S2167 (2R) on June 30, 2025.

Current committee/status entries in documents include referral to health-related committee(s) and subsequent committee reports.

Potential impacts to consider

Operational: menu planning, procurement (more whole grains, lower sodium products), staff training, possible need for new suppliers or recipe development.

Financial: schools could face higher food costs or administrative costs; however, no state fiscal note has been certified.

Health: intended to sustain stricter nutrition standards to support healthier student diets and reduce obesity risks.