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HR 9951

Know What’s on the Tray Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Tom Barrett

Requires schools in NSLP/SBP to publicly publish information about every menu item or food offered or served.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9951

Overview

HR 9951, introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce, would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or the National School Breakfast Program (SBP) to publish information about every menu item or food offered or served in a lunch or breakfast. The bill has a co-sponsor: Tom Barrett.

Purpose and intent

  • The primary aim is transparency in school meal programs by mandating public disclosure of detailed information about all menu items and foods offered or served to students as part of NSLP and SBP.
  • The underlying objective appears to be enabling parents, students, and the public to access information about what is being served, potentially including ingredients, nutrition, sourcing, or other item-specific details (though the precise scope of “information” would be defined in the bill’s text).

Key provisions

  • Coverage: Applies to all schools participating in the NSLP or SBP.
  • Disclosure obligation: Schools must publish information about every menu item or food offered or served in a lunch or breakfast.
  • Publication mechanism: The bill specifies a requirement to publish this information, though the exact medium (e.g., school websites, published menus, or other platforms) would be detailed in the legislative text.
  • Scope of information: The bill requires publication of “information on any menu item or food offered or served,” which likely includes item names and related details. The bill would need to define what constitutes “information” (e.g., ingredients, allergens, nutritional content, sourcing, preparation methods) for clarity and enforcement.
  • Relationship to existing programs: The requirement is tied to participation in NSLP and SBP, integrating with current federal meal program obligations.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: Schools and school districts participating in the NSLP and SBP.
  • Secondary: Students and families who rely on school meals, school nutrition staff, and administrators responsible for menu planning and public communications.
  • Vendors and suppliers: Potential impact if item-level disclosures require more detailed labeling or ingredient information.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral: The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on 2026-07-27.
  • Status: As of the provided action history, the bill has not progressed beyond committee referral.
  • Next steps: If advanced, the committee could hold hearings, mark up the bill, and move it to the House floor for debate and a vote. If enacted, it would likely include a phased implementation timeline and any necessary funding or regulatory guidance.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Transparency and consumer information: Could improve visibility into what students are consuming and enable better decision-making by families.
  • Administrative burden: Schools may incur costs and require process changes to publish item-level information, update platforms, and maintain accuracy.
  • Compliance and enforcement: The bill would create a statutory obligation; enforcement mechanisms and penalties (if any) would be defined in the text.
  • Public health/nutrition: Depending on how “information” is defined, it could influence menu planning and allergen management.

Notes for readers

  • The summary reflects the bill’s stated purpose and provisions based on the available information. For precise definitions, scope, and penalties, the full text of HR 9951 and any accompanying committee reports would be necessary.

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

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