SB 517 — relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost, and making an appropriation therefor.

SB 517-FN - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE 03/12/2026 1158s SESSION 26-2070 07/06 SENATE BILL 517-FN AN ACT relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost, and making an appropriation therefor.

SB 517-FN - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE 03/26/2026 1158s 26-2070 07/06 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost, and making an appropriation therefor.

The amount of $107,000 is appropriated to the department of education for the biennium ending June 30, 2026,2027, for administrative costs related to providing administrative or technical assistance to school districts establishing an online application for free or reduced-price school meals.

The amount of $250,000 is appropriated to the department of education for the biennium ending June 30, 2026,2027, for disbursement to school districts to be reimbursed at a 50 percent rate pursuant to RSA 189:11-a, X(a) and to purchase software related to the establishment of an online SB 517-FN - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE - Page 2 - application for free or reduced-price school meals.

LBA 26-2070 11/17/253/16/26 SB 517-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1158s) AN ACT relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost, and making an appropriation therefor.

Estimated State Impact FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 Revenue Fund(s) None NHED Position Costs $218K in FY 2027, $228K in FY 2028, and $238K in FY 2029   Expenditures* $0 NHED Meal Reimbursements to Districts Indeterminable - Up to Approximately $7M Per Year (see methodology below)   Funding Source(s) General Fund ThisAppropriations* $0 $357,000 $0 $0 Funding Source(s) General Fund *Expenditure = Cost of bill intends*Appropriation = Authorized funding to appropriatecover fundscost forof abill NHEDEstimated Appropriations*Political Subdivision Impact FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Local Revenue $0 administrationIndeterminable andIncrease reimbursementLocal toExpenditures school$0 districtsIndeterminable forIncrease software.METHODOLOGY:

SeeThis methodologybill, below.effective for the 2026-2027 school year, authorizes school boards to vote to increase eligibility for free meals to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and attempts to provide general funds to the Department of Education for administrative costs and reimbursements to districts to purchase software related to the establishment of an online application for free or reduced-price school meals and to reimburse at a 50 percent rate pursuant to RSA 189:11-a.

Funding Source(s) General Fund *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill Estimated Political Subdivision Impact FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Local Revenue $0 Indeterminable Increase Local Expenditures $0 Indeterminable Increase METHODOLOGY:

This bill, effective for the 2026-2027 school year, authorizes school boards to vote to increase eligibility for free meals to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and attempts to provide general funds to the Department of Education for administrative costs and reimbursements to districts to purchase software related to the establishment of an online application for free or reduced-price school meals and to reimburse at a 50 percent rate pursuant to RSA 189:11-a, however there is a technical error in that those appropriations are made “for the biennium ending June 30, 2026, and this bill is effective July 1, 2026.

State Impact Ultimately, this bill’s impact is unknown as it cannot be predicted how many school boards may elect to increase eligibility for free means.meals.

 To provide funding for the breakfast reimbursement of the difference between a paid reimbursement and a free reimbursement for the students whomwhose income is between the federal reduced priced guideline of 185% to the proposed 200% is estimated at $2,311,011:

o Total paid eligible students (124,644) * 10% = 12,464 potential eligible students o Possible Paid Students who could receive meals at no cost is 12,464 o Potential breakfast state payment = $1.03  12,465 students * $1.03 * 180 school days = $2,311,011  To provide funding for the lunch reimbursement of the difference between a paid reimbursement and a free reimbursement for the students whom income is between the federal reduced priced guideline of 185% to the proposed 200% is estimated at $4,666,522:

o Total paid eligible students (124,644) * 10% = 12,464 potential eligible students o Possible Paid Students who could receive meals at no cost is 12,464 o Potential lunch state payment = $2.08  12,464 students * $2.08 * 180 school days = $4,666,522  To provide funding for the lunch reimbursement of the difference between a reduced priced reimbursement and a free reimbursement for the students whom income is between the federal reduced priced guideline of 185% to the proposed 200% is estimated at $229,824:

Given the technical error in the appropriation section of this bill, there is no funding provided for personnel.

Districts will receive an indeterminable increase in revenue associated with reimbursements illustrated above,above. however, due to the technical mistake in the appropriation section, the $250,000 appropriation relative to software for the establishment of an online application for free or reduced-price school meals, would not be available under the bill as written.