Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2026”.
Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2026
A BILL
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to exclude certain military housing allowances from the calculation of household income, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Direct certification for children who are members of a household of a member of a uniformed service
Report—
In general— Not later than October 1, 2026, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to Congress a report on the feasibility and cost of establishing procedures under which children who are members of a household of a member of a uniformed service may be certified as eligible for free or reduced price lunches under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and free or reduced price breakfasts under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), without further application.
Contents— The report required under paragraph (1) shall evaluate a range of options for implementing direct certification, including—
the use and sharing of data collected for the calculation of the basic needs allowance under section 402b of title 37, United States Code, and other assistance programs for members of a uniformed service; and
the exclusion of non-service member income from the calculation of household income under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).
Exclusion of basic allowance for housing from income calculation— Section 9(b)(13) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(13)) is amended by striking “, on behalf of” and all that follows through “related provision of law”.