Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026

(a) Elimination of free lunch eligibility requirements

(1) In general. Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

(2) Conforming amendments

(A) Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended—

(i) in subsection (c), in the third sentence, by striking or at a reduced cost; and

(ii) in subsection (e), by striking , reduced price,.

(B) Section 28 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769i) is amended—

(i) by striking subsection (b); and

(ii) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).

(C) Section 17(d)(2)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)) is amended—

(i) by striking clause (i); and

(ii) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively.

(D) Section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:

(E) Section 1154(a)(2)(A)(i) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking in accordance with section 9(b)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(1).

(F) Section 4301 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 1758a) is repealed.

(b) No collection of debt

(1) In general. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or any other provision of law, effective beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, as a condition of participation in the school lunch program under that Act, a school—

(A) shall not collect any debt owed to the school for unpaid meal charges; and

(B) shall continue to accrue debt for unpaid meal charges—

(i) for the purpose of receiving reimbursement under section 212; and

(ii) until the effective date specified in section 2.

(2) National School Lunch Act. Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: