Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026
A bill from an independent · See all 20 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 aims to amend existing laws to make breakfasts and lunches free for all children. It modifies the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish new payment rates and eligibility standards. The bill establishes a national average payment for free breakfasts and lunches, which are adjusted annually for inflation. It also prohibits schools from collecting debt for unpaid meal charges and bans practices like breakfast shaming. Additionally, the legislation addresses summer food service, afterschool care, and the reimbursement of delinquent school meal debt.
Yes· 3 of 21
- Scored +10
Would children be better off under this?
The bill ensures all children have access to free breakfast and lunch regardless of income.
- Scored +10
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill eliminates the cost of school meals for all children, significantly benefiting low-income families.
- Scored +10
Would students be better off under this?
The bill ensures all students have access to free breakfast and lunch without the threat of debt or shaming.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Would high-income households be better off under this?
High-income households receive the same benefit as low-income households, which may be viewed as a less targeted subsidy.
- Scored -1
Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one?
The bill focuses on a universal public school meal system rather than a school choice model.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Free Meals for All Children: The bill changes requirements so that all children enrolled in participating schools receive free breakfast and lunch (Section 101; Section 202).
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Debt Protection: Schools are prohibited from collecting any debt owed for unpaid meal charges (Section 101; Section 202).
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Elimination of Breakfast Shaming: The act prohibits schools or food authorities from physically segregating children for debt shaming or using special tokens/lists to identify them (Section 101).
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Support for Local Food Producers: School food authorities can receive additional payments if they serve meals made with locally-sourced farm products (Section 201).
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Expanded Summer Access: The bill updates the Summer Food Service Program and the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program to ensure all children are eligible (Section 205; Section 206).
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Debt Relief for Schools: A reimbursement program will be established to pay schools back for delinquent meal debt existing at the time of enactment (Section 212).
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Increased Support for Afterschool and Care: The bill provides for free meals and supplements for children in afterschool care and through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (Section 207; Section 208).
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Support for Incarcerated Juveniles: Incarcerated juveniles in eligible detention centers will be eligible to receive free lunch (Section 409).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Potential Financial Burdens on Schools: While the bill provides payments, it mandates that schools cannot collect any debt owed for unpaid meal charges (Section 101; Section 202).
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Rounding Down Payments: Inflation adjustments for breakfast and lunch payments are adjusted to the nearest lower-cent increment (Section 101; Section 201).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill ensures all children have access to free breakfast and lunch regardless of income. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill eliminates the cost of school meals for all children, significantly benefiting low-income families. Would students be better off under this? — The bill ensures all students have access to free breakfast and lunch without the threat of debt or shaming. Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill creates additional payment opportunities for those providing locally-sourced farm products. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill reduces household expenses by providing free meals for all children. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill improves food security for all children, which can mitigate systemic economic disparities. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill improves food security for all children, which can mitigate systemic economic disparities. Would business owners be better off under this? — Local food producers and farm businesses may see increased demand through school meal incentives. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill improves food security for all children, which can mitigate systemic economic disparities. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill expands access to nutritional programs for children in Tribal organizations. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill supports local food systems which often benefit rural agricultural communities. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill provides nutritional support for students in school and afterschool care. Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill provides nutritional support for all children regardless of status. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — The bill may reduce the financial burden on parents of school-aged children. Would white Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides universal meal access for all school-enrolled children. Would high-income households be better off under this? — High-income households receive the same benefit as low-income households, which may be viewed as a less targeted subsidy.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill provides free breakfast and lunch to all children, reducing the financial burden on low-income families. Does this shorten or soften prison sentences? — The bill provides free lunches for juveniles in eligible detention centers. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill provides free meals to all children, which can reduce food insecurity disparities among racial groups.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill supports local food producers through additional payments for locally-sourced farm products. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides additional payments to schools that serve locally-sourced farm products.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one? — The bill focuses on a universal public school meal system rather than a school choice model.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill includes incentives for schools to purchase locally-sourced farm products.
- 11/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/13/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 19 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts