Summary of HR 6795 (Introduced December 17, 2025)

Overview

• Bill Number: HR 6795
• Title: To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve direct certification, and for other purposes
• Introduced: December 17, 2025
• Status: Introduced in the House; referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce

This bill seeks to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act with a focus on enhancing direct certification for school meal programs. Direct certification allows eligible students to receive free meals without a household application by using existing data sources (e.g., participation in other Federal or state programs). The phrase “and for other purposes” indicates additional, unspecified provisions adjacent to the direct certification objective.

Key Provisions (Based on the bill’s title and typical scope of direct certification improvements)

Note: The exact statutory text of HR 6795 is not provided here. The following outlines reflect common elements associated with reforms to direct certification under the National School Lunch Act and should be read as plausible areas the bill may address.

• Direct Certification Enhancements

  • Strengthening criteria or methods for determining student eligibility for free meals without application.
  • Expanding data sources used for direct certification (e.g., SNAP participation, Medicaid, TANF, or other means-tested programs) to identify eligible students.
  • Streamlining the certification process to reduce administrative burden on schools.

• Eligibility and Access

  • Increasing the number of students who qualify for free meals through improved data matching and verification procedures.
  • Reducing barriers for school districts with limited administrative capacity to participate in direct certification.

• Privacy and Data Security

  • Establishing or clarifying privacy protections and data handling requirements related to sharing student information across agencies for direct certification.
  • Ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state privacy laws.

• Administrative and Federal Requirements

  • Potential changes to reporting, oversight, or funding associated with direct certification activities.
  • Clarifications on roles and responsibilities of state agencies, school districts, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in implementing direct certification improvements.

Who Would Be Affected

• School meal program administrators in K-12 schools (districts and potentially charter schools) who administer free/reduced-price meal programs.
• Eligible students and families who could gain improved access to free meals through streamlined direct certification.
• State agencies and local educational agencies responsible for administering school nutrition programs.
• Data privacy and information technology systems that support cross-agency data sharing for eligibility determinations.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Introduced in the House on December 17, 2025.
• Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce for consideration.
• Next steps typically include committee hearings, potential amendments, and movement toward floor consideration or further legislative action.

Remarks

Given the lack of the bill text in this summary, readers should consult the official bill language and committee reports for precise provisions, definitions, effective dates, funding implications, and any related “other purposes” included in HR 6795.