This bill changes the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act so that participation in the summer EBT program becomes mandatory for most states that take part in the school lunch program. For summers 2024, 2025, and 2026, states and covered Indian Tribal organizations may elect to take part in summer EBT as before. Beginning with summer 2027, any State that participates in the school lunch program must also participate in the summer EBT program. Covered Indian Tribal organizations that run the school lunch program must participate in summer EBT starting in 2027; other covered Indian Tribal organizations may elect to participate. The bill also updates administrative rules: starting in 2027, states must notify the Secretary by January 1 of their intent to administer the relevant program and must submit a management and administration plan for approval by February 15 each year.
If your State participates in the national school lunch program, the State would be required to participate in the summer EBT program starting in summer 2027. The bill text does not provide details on who will qualify, how much benefits would be, or how benefits would be delivered. States and covered Indian Tribal organizations will face new annual notice and plan submission deadlines for the programs.
No publicly available information on estimated federal or state costs, or on budget impacts, appears in the bill text or metadata.
The bill was introduced by Representatives including André Carson and Eleanor Norton and others to make summer EBT participation a condition of participating in the school lunch program beginning in 2027 and to set related administrative deadlines. The bill text itself states the change in participation rules and the new plan and notice requirements.
No publicly available information on opposition or stated objections appears in the bill text or metadata.