This bill mandates the Department of Education to adopt rules requiring school districts to provide both online and physical applications for free or reduced-price school meals. It also stipulates that the Department will offer administrative and technical assistance to school districts that implement these online applications, specifically for those whose meal programs are approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. The bill introduces a new paragraph to RSA 189:11-a, which outlines these requirements, and specifies that eligible school districts for assistance must be those approved to operate federal school meal programs.

To support the implementation of this initiative, the bill includes appropriations from the general fund: $102,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and $104,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, to establish a position within the Department of Education to oversee the program. Additionally, it allocates $1,000,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, to provide software to school districts for the online application process. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 189:11-a
HB646 text: 189:11-a