This bill amends South Dakota law to establish guidelines for the reimbursement of school districts that provide free or reduced-price meals to students. Specifically, it modifies section 13-35-2 to clarify that school districts may charge for meals provided to students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program. Additionally, a new section is added to prohibit school districts from charging students who qualify for reduced-price meals for any meals served through these programs.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Department of Education calculate and reimburse school districts for the cost of meals served to students who cannot be charged, based on information provided by the districts. The reimbursement process involves subtracting the amount for meals served to students eligible for reduced-price meals from the amount for those eligible for free meals, and then multiplying the difference by the number of meals served to eligible students. This ensures that school districts receive appropriate funding for the meals they provide to students in need.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/16/2026: 13-35-2
House Appropriations Engrossed, 02/23/2026: 13-35-2
Enrolled, 03/10/2026: 13-35-2