This bill aims to enhance education finance in Minnesota by increasing local optional aid for schools and establishing new guidelines for state-funded free school lunches. It limits eligibility for state-paid free school lunches to families with incomes at or below 500 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill amends several sections of the Minnesota Statutes, including provisions related to school meal policies, school lunch aid amounts, and local optional revenue calculations. Notably, it introduces new definitions for various meal types and eligibility standards, and it mandates that schools must adopt and publicly post their meal policies to ensure transparency and prevent lunch shaming.

Key amendments include the establishment of an "enhanced meals program" to replace the previous free meals program, which requires schools to provide meals to all eligible students without charge. The bill also specifies that schools may set higher meal eligibility standards and transfer funds to cover meal costs. Additionally, it outlines new local optional revenue allowances for districts, which will be effective starting in fiscal year 2026. The bill includes appropriations for the Department of Education to support these initiatives, ensuring that schools receive adequate funding to implement the changes effectively.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 124D.111, 124E.20, 126C.10