The bill mandates that each school district's board of education must determine the number of students eligible for free meals under the national school lunch program each school year. It allows school districts to provide necessary instruction and assistance to ensure accurate participation in the program. If a school district is eligible for the community eligibility provision under federal law, the board must consider participation. If they choose to participate and it does not cause financial hardship, they are required to affirm this decision and direct the superintendent to take necessary actions.

In cases where participation would lead to financial hardship, the board must publicly demonstrate this hardship and declare their decision not to participate in the community eligibility provision. The state department of education is tasked with assisting any qualifying school districts in their efforts to participate in this program. The bill includes several changes to the existing legal language, such as replacing "adopt a resolution to" with "affirm such participation and direct the superintendent" and modifying the process for declaring financial hardship.