119th Congress
H.R. 6795
School MEALS Act of 2025
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became law
- Sponsor
- Jahana Hayes(D-CT)
- Introduced
- Dec 17, 2025
- Policy area
- Agriculture and Food
- Committees
- House Committee on Education and Workforce
- Official text
- Introduced in House · Congress.gov page
Cosponsors (1)
Original cosponsors (1)
- Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
Summary
Summary by the Congressional Research Service· describes the “Introduced in House” version
School Modernization and Efficient Access to Lunches for Students Act of 2025 or the School MEALS Act of 2025
This bill establishes programs and revises requirements relating to direct certification processes for the National School Lunch Program. Direct certification allows schools to use data matching procedures to approve school meals without the need for applications for children who receive assistance under other programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture to provide grants and technical assistance for states and tribal organizations to improve their direct certification processes, including with respect to children who receive assistance under a food distribution program on Indian reservations.
The bill also expands the time frame for schools to elect and gather eligibility data for the Community Eligibility Provision. This provision permits schools in high-poverty areas to serve free meals to all enrolled students without the need for applications.
Further, the bill specifies that a state subject to a continuous improvement plan (for not directly certifying at least 95% of children eligible for direct certification because they receive SNAP benefits) must implement the improvement measures within three years.
Roll-call votes
No recorded votes on this bill.
Actions
- Dec 17, 2025 · House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. - Dec 17, 2025
Introduced in House