To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require participation in the summer EBT program as a condition of participating in the school lunch program, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9265
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:09:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require states and certain Indian Tribal organizations that participate in the federal school lunch program to also participate in the summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program, beginning in summer 2027. This change shifts the summer EBT program from voluntary to mandatory for qualifying participants.
Key Provisions
- Mandatory Participation: Starting in summer 2027, any state or covered Indian Tribal organization that takes part in the school lunch program must also join the summer EBT program. For summers 2024–2026, participation remains optional.
- Administrative Updates: States must submit management and administration plans by February 15 each year and notify the Secretary of Agriculture of their intent to administer the program by January 1.
- Tribal Flexibility: Covered Indian Tribal organizations may elect to participate in summer EBT even if they do not participate in the school lunch program.
- Conforming Changes: Updates to planning requirements and removal of prior elective language ensure the program operates uniformly after 2026.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill converts the summer EBT program from an optional initiative into a required condition for school lunch program participation. It eliminates the prior “elect to participate” framework and ties summer EBT eligibility directly to ongoing involvement in the school lunch program.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agencies will face expanded administrative duties, including mandatory plan submissions and program oversight.
- Citizens: Eligible children in participating states will receive automatic access to summer food benefits, potentially reducing food insecurity during non-school months.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State governments and education or agriculture departments.
- Covered Indian Tribal organizations.
- Schools and school districts operating the school lunch program.
- Low-income families with school-age children.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation uses conditional federal funding to require state participation, which may raise questions about federal authority over state program administration. No explicit constitutional challenges are addressed in the bill text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require participation in the summer EBT program as a condition of participating in the school lunch program, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (5 pages)