Relating to school district grace period policies and the provision of meals to public school students with insufficient balances on prepaid meal cards or in meal accounts.

HB 2526 requires Texas public school districts to establish a minimum one-week grace period for students with exhausted or insufficient balances on prepaid meal cards. During this period, students may continue receiving standard school meals without fees by accumulating negative balances or receiving district credit. School districts must make at least three private attempts to notify parents about the balance issue, assist with free/reduced-price meal applications, and arrange payment plans. After the grace period, districts must continue providing free meals to qualifying students if payment isn't secured, and may use private donations to cover unpaid balances.