Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 14 Democratic cosponsors · See all 14 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
This bill is called the Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2026. It was introduced in the Senate on September 23, 2026. The main goal of the bill is to increase the reimbursement rates for school meals. It amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Specifically, it adds money to the amount given for school lunches and school breakfasts. These changes are set to begin on October 1, 2026.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
Children will benefit directly from increased funding and improved nutritional support in school meals.
- Scored +6
Would students be better off under this?
Students will receive better-funded and more robust meal programs during the school day.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Low-income households benefit from enhanced financial support for free and reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill increases federal spending by raising reimbursement rates for school lunches and breakfasts.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a): This section gives an additional 45 cents for each lunch served in school food authorities starting on October 1, 2026. This is a positive outcome because it increases the money available for school lunches.
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Section 2(b): This section gives an additional 28 cents for each free, reduced price, and regular breakfast served in school food authorities starting on October 1, 2026. This is beneficial because it provides more financial support for school breakfasts.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- There are no negative impacts or burdens for individuals or groups of people explicitly found within the provided text.
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? — Children will benefit directly from increased funding and improved nutritional support in school meals. Would students be better off under this? — Students will receive better-funded and more robust meal programs during the school day. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income households benefit from enhanced financial support for free and reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-class families with children in public schools will see cost savings through increased meal reimbursement rates.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill increases federal funding for school nutrition programs by providing higher reimbursement rates for school lunches and breakfasts.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill increases federal spending by raising reimbursement rates for school lunches and breakfasts.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The legislation expands federal involvement and funding directed toward local school food authorities.
- 9/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/24/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 11 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.
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont