This bill mandates that the Department of Education adopt rules requiring school districts to provide both online and physical applications for free or reduced-price school meals. It stipulates that the Department will offer administrative and technical assistance to school districts that are approved to operate federal school meal programs through the United States Department of Agriculture. The bill also includes an appropriation of $102,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and $104,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, to fund a new position within the Department of Education to oversee the implementation of these provisions. Additionally, it allocates $1,000,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, to provide software to school districts for establishing the online application process.

The bill introduces new legal language by adding a paragraph to RSA 189:11-a, which outlines the requirements for school districts regarding meal applications. There are no deletions from current law mentioned in the text. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and the fiscal impact is currently under review by the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant, pending further information from the Department of Education.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 33:3, 33:3-c, 33:3-g, 33-B:1
As Amended by the Senate: 33-B:1, 38:38
Version adopted by both bodies: 33-B:1, 38:38
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 33-B:1, 38:38