Senate Substitute for HB 2402 by Committee on Education - Requiring eligible boards of education to consider participation in the community eligibility provision, providing a financial hardship exception to such participation, requiring the state department of education to assist school districts seeking such participation, extending the application deadline for authorization to operate as a public innovative district from December 1 to May 1 and deeming such applications approved if not approved or denied within 45 days of submission.

Removed the creation of a Blue Ribbon Commission on higher education, including its 17-member composition, meeting procedures, and reporting requirements.

Added a requirement for school districts with high free-meal eligibility to consider participating in the federal community eligibility provision.

Created a financial hardship exception allowing school districts to formally opt-out of the free meal program if participation would cause financial difficulty.

Extended the application deadline for public innovative districts from December 1 to May 1.

Reduced the state board's review period for public innovative district applications from 90 days to 45 days.

Established an automatic approval mechanism where applications are deemed approved if the state board does not act within the 45-day review period.