HR 8798 United States House · 119th Congress

Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026

The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 mandates that all public schools provide free breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, regardless of income. It establishes specific funding rates for these meals, adjusts payments based on the use of locally sourced food, and eliminates the ability of schools to collect debt for unpaid charges. Additionally, the bill expands free meal access to summer programs, afterschool care, and incarcerated juveniles while updating poverty measurement standards across various federal education and nutrition laws.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

President

Introduced May 13, 2026 Last action May 13, 2026

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Committee

May 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

lower

May 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 100 co-sponsors