AUSTIN, Texas - Congress is considering legislation that would change a program that currently allows schools in high-poverty areas to offer free meals to all students. A bill in the House would tighten the rules for schools to qualify. Advocates say changes would affect the Community Eligibility provision, meaning fewer schools in Texas and other states could offer the free meals program.

Jessie Hewins, senior child nutrition analyst at the Food Research and Action Center, said if passed, the bill would force more than 7,000 schools serving 3.4 million students to reapply for the program. She said it would significantly impact schools in the Lone Star State.

"Eight hundred and two schools that are currently participating would not meet the threshold under the new bill," she said. "So it would be a significant number of schools having to return to collecting those school meal applications and the added administrative burden."

Hewins said Texas currently has one of the highest rates of participation in the country. But those who advocate changes to the program say free meals should be given to those who need it most and say the additional funding could be used in other areas such as summer food programs.

Hewins said, however, that schools offering free food to all students often see an increase in the number of kids eating breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income.

"We know that schools that are able to offer free meals to all the kids, it really eliminates the stigma in the cafeteria," she added.

Zoe Neuberger, senior policy analyst for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said there's a chance the bill in the House will be modified before it's approved.

"The administration doesn't support that change, so our hope is that as the legislation moves forward the Community Eligibility provision would be dropped," she said.

The Community Eligibility Provision is not part of the Senate version of the legislation.

The full bill can be read online here.


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South Dakotans face high prices at the grocery store and some are working to ease the burden.

A new report from the Federal Trade Commission finds some grocery retailers used the supply-chain disruptions of the pandemic to raise prices and collect bigger profits, even after supply chains regulated.

One South Dakota group is trying to reduce sticker shock by targeting the state sales tax on groceries. Dakotans for Health is sponsoring a citizens ballot initiative to repeal the 4.2 % tax.

Rick Weiland, co-founder of the group, said lower food bills would make a meaningful difference for some.

"People of modest means, or low income hardworking families, disproportionately spend upwards of 30% on food," Weiland pointed out. "This is going to be helpful."

South Dakota is one of only two states in the country to apply its full state sales tax rate to groceries with no exemptions, Mississippi being the other. More than 9% of South Dakotans are considered food insecure, meaning they do not always have access to enough healthy food.

The grocery tax has been a popular topic among state legislators in recent years. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem even campaigned on the promise to repeal it. Critics have said proposing a tax cut without a way to finance it is irresponsible.

Weiland pointed out Gov. Noem had a formula spelled out when she brought forward her bill in 2023, which was voted down.

"She had no problem defending her position in front of the Legislature, in terms of how much revenue the state was going to lose and where they could make it up," Weiland recounted.

The initiative needs about 17,500 signatures by next month to appear on the November ballot.

Colorado families must sign up before the end of April to receive $120 per child to buy food through the new Summer EBT program approved by Congress. Families with incomes that qualify for free and reduced-price school lunches - up to around $49,000 a year for a family of three - must enroll through their school.

Anya Rose, public policy director with Hunger Free Colorado, said as school cafeterias close their doors for summer, EBT cards can help kids get the nutrition they need to return to school in the fall ready to learn.

"A lot of families will be automatically enrolled, if they are enrolled in programs like TANF, SNAP, Medicaid. If you are unsure, then talk to your school about filling out the household income form to make sure you can qualify this year if you're income eligible," she said.

EBT grocery cards can be used to buy fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, eggs, breads, meat, fish and other food at all grocery stores that accept SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as food stamps.

Rose noted grocery cards will be sent by mail, so it's important to make sure schools have your correct address.

Some 337,000 Colorado children are eligible for the program that is expected to generate up to $72 million in economic activity across the state. Grocery cards are available to all income-qualifying households regardless of their immigration status.

"There are no immigration eligibility requirements. And accessing Summer EBT and school meals do not impact immigration status in any way," she explained.

Filling out your school's household income application, sometimes called a school meal or benefit form, will also bring critical federal dollars into Colorado's Healthy School Meals for All initiative. It's currently running $24 million over budget. Rose adds there are other benefits for families who participate in Summer EBT.

"That same form can also qualify students to get discounts on school-related fees for things like SAT or ACT testing, or athletics or band or field trips or other activities," she said.

Oregon is participating in a federal food benefits program for children, called Summer EBT.

Dollars from the program will go even farther to purchase produce, through the Double Up Food Bucks program.

The Oregon Legislature approved the state's participation in the Summer EBT program, making nearly 300,000 children eligible to receive $40 for food each month over the summer.

Mason Durfee, Double Up Food Bucks organizer with Oregon Food Bank, said the additional benefits can be used for the Double Up program.

"Essentially, that increases their total monthly budget that they have," said Durfee, "but also what's really cool about Summer EBT is any of the Summer EBT benefits can also be used to earn Double Up, because they're just being treated as additional SNAP dollars on someone's card."

The Double Up Food Bucks program allows participants with benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to buy fresh produce and have the dollars they spend matched - essentially doubling their purchasing power.

Double Up Food Bucks coordinator with Oregon Food Bank, Jas Eppesheimer, said the program is available at a variety of venues across the state.

"The benefits at participating farmers markets are amazing, grocery stores and CSA - Community Supported Agriculture - farms," said Eppesheimer. "So, shoppers can bring home just a lot more fresh produce."

The program matches up to $20 of purchases per day at participating farmers markets. At participating grocery stores, up to $20 spent on fruits and vegetables can be redeemed for produce on the next visit.

The program can also go toward CSA memberships. Oregonians can find participating organizations at doubleuporegon.org.