Education (Student Health)

in committee · United States · House Jan 27, 2026

HR 7259: Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2026

HR 7259, the Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2026, requires a study to determine if military children could automatically qualify for free or reduced-price school meals without needing to apply separately. The study, due by October 2026, would evaluate using existing military data (like basic needs allowances) and excluding housing allowances from income calculations to simplify eligibility. It does not change current meal program rules but would assess making it easier for children living with active-duty service members to access these benefits. This bill directly affects military dependents by potentially streamlining their access to school meal programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill simplifies school meal eligibility for military dependents, improving access to educational support services without changing current rules. Aligns with enhancing student access under education policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · United States · House Jun 26, 2025

HR 4186: Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act

HR 4186, the Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act, creates a federal grant program to expand mental health services for K-12 students in underserved areas. It authorizes $5 million annually (2026-2029) for grants to school districts partnering with community health providers to establish telehealth programs, focusing on rural, high-poverty, or health-professional-shortage-area schools. Funds can cover telehealth equipment, staffing, and facilities to deliver remote mental health care. The program requires grantees to comply with privacy laws and report on student access to services by 2027. This directly affects students lacking local mental health resources through concrete funding for telehealth infrastructure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds $5M/year for K-12 mental health telehealth services in underserved schools, directly expanding student access to educational support programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates federal grants to fund telehealth mental health services for underserved K-12 students, directly expanding access and funding mental health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health Telehealth

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in committee · United States · House Jul 16, 2025

HR 4451: CARE for Kids Act of 2025

The CARE for Kids Act of 2025 expands eligibility for free school meals under the National School Lunch Act by adding new categories of children who automatically qualify. It includes children in kinship care with legal documentation (e.g., grandparent caregivers with custody or consent affidavits), children receiving adoption or kinship guardianship payments, and children living in low-income housing with older caregivers or under Native American housing programs. The bill also requires schools to honor meal eligibility when a child transfers between districts, extending coverage by one year if the child began living with a qualifying caregiver within the prior 12 months. These changes directly affect school districts, caregivers, and children in specific vulnerable situations who previously faced barriers to meal assistance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands free school meal eligibility for vulnerable students, directly enhancing educational access and support for K-12 nutrition programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands free school meals to more children, supporting public health nutrition programs under healthcare's public health initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · United States · House Feb 12, 2025

HR 1275: Focus on Learning Act

The Focus on Learning Act requires the Surgeon General to study how personal mobile devices affect student learning, mental health, and school climate in elementary and secondary schools. It establishes a pilot program offering $5 million over five years to school districts that implement "device-free" environments - requiring secure storage for students' personal phones during school hours - while allowing exceptions for health needs, students with disabilities, or language translation. Schools in the pilot must obtain parental input, maintain staff communication systems, and detail their device policies before participating. The study and pilot aim to test whether reducing personal device use during school improves academic outcomes and school environment, with results to be reported to Congress.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $5M for pilot programs creating device-free school environments to improve learning and mental health, directly funding an educational initiative.92% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 12, 2025

S 993: School Lunch Debt Cancellation Act of 2025

This bill cancels all existing school meal debt owed by households for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program as of its enactment date. Within 180 days, the Secretary of Agriculture must eliminate this debt using Commodity Credit Corporation funds, paying local schools directly and confirming cancellation to affected households. It applies to households with outstanding balances under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act's breakfast program. The bill also updates funding rules to allow Commodity Credit Corporation funds for other nutrition programs like the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCancels school meal debt, removing financial barriers to student access under National School Lunch Program, directly supporting educational access for K-12 students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · United States · House Dec 2, 2025

HR 5731: School Food Modernization Act

HR 5731, the School Food Modernization Act, provides funding to help schools upgrade facilities and equipment for healthier meal programs. It authorizes $300 million in loan guarantees (covering up to 80% of costs) and $35 million annually for grants to support kitchen renovations, equipment purchases, and food safety improvements for local schools and tribal organizations. The bill also allocates $10 million yearly to fund training programs for school food service staff, developed by third-party organizations, to meet nutrition standards. These provisions directly affect public school districts, tribal schools, and their food service operations by enabling infrastructure upgrades and staff training.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds school infrastructure upgrades for healthier meals, directly advancing educational access and facility improvements per topic description.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds healthier school meal programs and kitchen improvements, indirectly supporting public health and nutrition access for students.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · United States · House Dec 11, 2025

HR 6683: Safer Schools Act of 2025

The Safer Schools Act of 2025 establishes a 5-year federal pilot program providing grants to public schools for security risk assessments and physical security upgrades. Public schools that have experienced violent incidents involving multiple people are prioritized for both types of grants. Schools receiving assessment grants must first identify vulnerabilities, while improvement grants fund specific security measures like panic alarms linked to local police, with federal funds covering up to 50% of costs. The program allocates $600 million total ($100M-$300M annually), requiring schools to submit financial reports and post-implementation safety surveys, with annual congressional reports tracking outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates federal grants for school security upgrades, increasing government spending on public safety services per its funding mechanism.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides federal grants for school security infrastructure upgrades, directly enhancing school safety and physical environment for students and staff per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Testing & Assessment

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in committee · United States · House Sep 18, 2025

HR 5482: Prevent Youth Suicide Act

HR 5482, the Prevent Youth Suicide Act, requires schools serving grades 6-12 that receive federal education funds to implement evidence-based suicide prevention and postvention protocols within 210 days of the law's enactment. Specifically, schools must develop staff training to identify suicide risks and connect students to mental health resources, establish referral systems, conduct anti-stigma awareness campaigns, and create postvention plans for after a suicide occurs. The bill mandates biennial staff training on trauma-informed care and requires the Secretary of Education to provide technical assistance and monitor compliance. These requirements directly affect all public and private K-12 schools participating in federal education programs under applicable law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates suicide prevention protocols in K-12 schools receiving federal education funds, enhancing student mental health and safety as part of educational access and school environment.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates schools to implement evidence-based mental health protocols including staff training, referrals, and anti-stigma campaigns, directly advancing mental health services within healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Jan 15, 2026

HR 7092: RAYS Act

The RAYS Act (HR 7092) requires secondary schools to include suicide prevention contact information on student identification cards or, if cards aren't issued, on school websites and student-accessible online platforms. Schools must list the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, and a local suicide prevention hotline. The bill also allows schools to optionally add more mental health resources and mandates federal outreach to inform students, parents, and staff about these services. It takes effect one year after enactment for physical ID cards and 60 days later for digital methods.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires schools to provide mental health resources via student IDs/websites, enhancing student access to critical support services within educational settings.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates schools to include suicide prevention resources (988, Crisis Text Line) on student IDs/websites, improving access to mental health services per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 29, 2025

S 2512: EATS Act of 2025

The EATS Act of 2025 (S 2512) expands eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to include most college students. It directly affects full-time undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time in recognized higher education institutions by removing their current exclusion from SNAP benefits. The bill revises the definition of "household" under SNAP rules and eliminates the prior requirement that students meet separate conditions to qualify. This change, effective January 2026, would allow millions of students to access food assistance without additional barriers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands SNAP access for college students, removing a barrier to higher education participation and improving educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Student Health

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