This bill amends current law to extend eligibility for free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs to students with an individualized education program (IEP) who are 21 years old but still attending school until they turn 22. It introduces new language to RSA 189:11-a, allowing these students to receive meals at federal reimbursement rates until they graduate, withdraw, or complete their educational program. Public school districts and chartered public schools will be able to seek reimbursement for meals served to these qualifying students, with state reimbursement available only for meals not covered by federal funding. The provisions of this act will take effect on July 1, 2026, applying to eligible students starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

The bill also appropriates $80,000 to the Department of Education for implementing the extended meal eligibility program and allocates $4.4 million to the Department of Health and Human Services to address administrative cost impacts from changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It proposes a state breakfast reimbursement of $0.03 per student for 180 school days, totaling an estimated cost of $53,525 for 118 students, and outlines a maximum cost of $91,120 for lunch reimbursement based on a federal free lunch reimbursement rate. Additionally, the bill includes a statutory open warrant from the education trust fund to cover these reimbursements and aligns with the Department of Health and Human Services' funding request to manage anticipated increases in administrative costs due to federal mandates.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 189:11-a
As Amended by the House: 189:11-a
As Amended by the Senate: 189:11-a
HB1574 text: 189:11-a
As Amended by the Senate (2nd): 189:11-a