This bill aims to enhance education finance in Minnesota by increasing local optional aid for schools and modifying the eligibility criteria for state-funded free school lunches. It stipulates that state-paid free school lunches will now be limited to families with incomes at or below 500 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill also introduces new definitions related to school meals, including terms like "full paid meal," "free meal," "reduced-price meal," and "enhanced school meal," which will help clarify the eligibility and funding structure for school meal programs. Additionally, it mandates that schools must adopt and publicly post their meal policies, ensuring that students are not shamed for unpaid meal balances and that those eligible for free or reduced-price meals are always served.

Furthermore, the bill amends several sections of the Minnesota Statutes to reflect these changes, including adjustments to the school lunch aid amounts and the introduction of an enhanced meals program. It establishes a new funding structure for local optional revenue, with specific amounts allocated for different tiers of local optional allowances starting in fiscal year 2026. The bill also allows schools to set higher meal eligibility standards and transfer funds to cover meal costs. Overall, the legislation seeks to improve access to nutritious meals for students while providing additional financial support to schools.

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