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.

New Hampshire lawmakers are again considering whether to expand access to free school meals, reviving a proposal that would allow local school districts to cover more students whose families struggle with rising costs.

Senate Bill 517, sponsored by Sen. Donovan Fenton, D-Keene, and Sen. Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton, would give school boards the option to raise the income threshold for free breakfast and lunch to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The current standard provides free meals to students from families earning up to 130 percent of poverty, with reduced-price meals available up to 185 percent.

For a family of four, the proposed expansion would apply to households earning as much as $64,300 annually.

The Senate Education Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the bill Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m. in the State Library.

Under the legislation, districts that choose to adopt the higher eligibility limit would continue to receive federal reimbursements for meals that qualify under existing U.S. Department of Agriculture rules. For students newly eligible under the expanded income range, the state would reimburse districts for half the difference between the federal free-meal rate and the reduced or paid rate. Local school districts would be responsible for covering the remaining costs.

In addition to the reimbursement structure, the bill would require participating districts to offer both online and paper applications for free and reduced-price meals. The Department of Education would be tasked with adopting rules for the expanded program and providing technical or administrative assistance to districts setting up online systems.

The bill includes language authorizing appropriations for those purposes, including funding for software and administrative support. However, the Legislative Budget Assistant flagged a technical issue: the appropriations are written for a biennium that ends before the bill would take effect on July 1, 2026, meaning no funds would actually be available unless the legislation is amended.

According to the fiscal analysis, the overall cost of the program is difficult to predict because participation would depend on decisions made by individual school boards. Using current enrollment and income data, the Department of Education estimates that state reimbursement costs could reach approximately $7 million per year if about 10 percent of students currently paying full price became eligible under the higher income threshold.

The department also noted it would likely need to add two staff positions to manage eligibility determinations and provide technical assistance to districts, though the bill does not currently fund those positions.

At the local level, school districts could see both increased expenses and additional revenue tied to state reimbursements. Costs would vary widely depending on participation rates, staffing needs, and meal program operations.

A similar proposal advanced through the Senate last year but failed in the House, where opponents raised concerns about long-term costs. Rep. Dan McGuire, R-Epsom, argued at the time that the state could not afford the added expense.

Fenton said the price tag should be viewed in context, as a small piece of the overall cost of running schools.

If approved, the measure would allow districts to opt into the expanded meal program beginning with the 2026–27 school year.