CONCORD, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A New Hampshire Senate bill would allow local school districts to expand access to free school meals while creating a new state reimbursement program to help offset the added costs.

Senate Bill 517, sponsored by Sen. Donovan Fenton (D-Keene) of District 10 and Sen. Timothy Lang (R-Sanbornton) of District 2, is scheduled for a public hearing before the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m. in the State Library. The bill remains in committee.

As introduced, SB 517 would authorize school boards to vote to raise eligibility for free school meals to students from households earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Under current federal guidelines, free meals are generally limited to families earning up to 130 percent of the poverty level, with reduced-price meals available up to 185 percent.

If a district opts into the expanded eligibility, meals that are not fully reimbursed under federal programs would be partially reimbursed by the state. The bill proposes that New Hampshire cover 50 percent of the cost difference between a free meal and a reduced-price or paid meal, with the remaining cost absorbed by the local school district.

The legislation would also require participating districts to offer both online and paper applications for free and reduced-price meals. The Department of Education would be directed to adopt rules governing the expanded program and to provide administrative or technical assistance to districts, particularly for establishing online application systems. Only districts already approved to operate U.S. Department of Agriculture school meal programs would be eligible to participate.

According to the Department of Education, the long-term fiscal impact of the proposal is uncertain because participation by school districts would be optional. Using current enrollment and reimbursement data, the department estimates potential state meal reimbursement costs could reach approximately $7.2 million per year if districts statewide adopt the expanded eligibility.

The department also estimates it would need two additional staff positions to administer the program and provide technical assistance, with projected personnel costs exceeding $200,000 annually beginning in fiscal year 2027. As written, the bill does not include funding for those positions.

At the local level, school districts that choose to participate would see increased costs, as they would be responsible for covering half of the additional meal expenses not reimbursed by federal or state funds. The Department of Education notes that local fiscal impacts would vary widely depending on participation rates, startup costs, staffing, and student enrollment.

If approved, SB 517 would take effect July 1, 2026.