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 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. A new paragraph is added to RSA 189:11-a, specifically stating that the Department must ensure these applications are available, thereby enhancing accessibility for families seeking meal assistance.

To support the implementation of this initiative, the bill includes appropriations of $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 dedicated to administering these provisions. Additionally, it allocates $1,000,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, to provide school districts with the necessary software 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