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HB 1574 · 2026 · House · Education Funding Committee

Extending free school meal eligibility

AI-generated

(Second New Title) relative to the extension of the free and reduced price breakfast and lunch programs and supporting administrative costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and making appropriations therefor.

Authorizes school boards to extend free and reduced-price meal eligibility to students with an individualized education program who remain enrolled past age 21, directs state reimbursement of school boards from the general fund, and appropriates funds for related SNAP administrative costs.AI-generated

Status

Died — conference committee did not agree · June 2, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Authorizes school boards to extend free and reduced meal program eligibility for students with an individualized education program (IEP) that are already age 21 but attending school until the age of 22. II. Directs the state to reimburse school boards from the general fund for free and reduced price meals for such eligible students. III. Makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for the purpose of supporting administrative cost impacts resulting from federal legislative cost-share changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The state of New Hampshire recognizes the importance of supporting the health and nutritional needs of special education students with disabilities who, under recent changes by the department of education, may continue their education beyond the age of 21.”
Section 1
“I-a.(a) Any student who is 21 years of age, enrolled in their resident school district or a chartered public school, and who qualified for the National School Lunch Program or the National School Breakfast Program at age 20 shall remain eligible to receive breakfasts and lunches at rates consistent with applicable federal standards until the earliest of the following occurs:”
Section 2
“There is hereby appropriated the sum of $80,000 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2027 to the department of education for the purpose of implementing and administering the extended school meal eligibility and reimbursement program established under this act.”
Section 3
“RSA 189:11-a as inserted in section 2 of this act shall apply to all eligible students enrolled beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.”
Section 4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Toni WeinsteinDPrime
  • Rep. Patricia CornellDRanking Member· Education Policy

Also: Rep. Loren SeligD, Rep. Carrie SorensenD

Public testimony

91 signed in online · 16 wrote testimony

98% support2% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The Members of the NH Council on Developmental Disabilities believe this will could have a positive effect on the NH disability community. Various studies have shown that children who are able to get an adequate amount of nutrients during their day perform better in school.…”
— Chase Eagleson, Concord · Members of the NH Council on Developmental Disabilitiessupports
“All children need to have access to free and reduced lunch benefits including special education students.”
— Marie Straiton, Pembrokesupports
“I firmly support funding food for hungry school students of any age.”
— Lisa Day-Copeland, Camptonsupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0632h (NT)17–1
    Overall
    94% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0632hadopted
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0632hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1607s7–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-16077–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1607sadopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1607sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1607s and Requests CofC (Rep. Ladd)adopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Ward Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding12:49–15:432m 54slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Education FundingWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==CANCELLED== Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0632h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0632h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 10, 2026Public hearingSenate Education24:09–26:142m 5slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate FinanceWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1607s and Requests CofC (Rep. Ladd) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Ladd, Erf, Popovici-Muller, Luneau
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floor6:04:36–6:07:292m 53slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1607; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1607s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1607s — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Funding HJ 1 P. 26
  2. Jan 15, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/15/2026 09:30 am GP 232
  3. Feb 3, 2026House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 02/03/2026 12:45 pm GP 232
  4. Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/10/2026 12:45 pm GP 232
  5. Feb 10, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0632h (NT) 02/10/2026 (Vote 17-1; RC) HC 7 P. 26
  6. Feb 11, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0632h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 44
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0632h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 44
  9. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 44
  10. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 112
  11. Feb 19, 2026SenIntroduced 02/19/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 5
  12. Mar 10, 2026SenHearing: 03/10/2026, Room Map Room, SL, 09:30 am; SC 9
  13. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
  14. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  15. Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:30 pm, on proposed non-germane amendment # 2026-1330s; SC 14
  16. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1607s, 05/07/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 17
  17. May 7, 2026SenHB 1574 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  18. May 14, 2026SenSpecial Order to 05/14/2026, Without Objection, MA; 05/07/2026 SJ 11
  19. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1607, 05/14/2026, Vote 7-0; SJ 11
  20. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1607s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  21. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1607s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  22. May 14, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1607s and Requests CofC (Rep. Ladd): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 149
  23. May 14, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Ladd, Erf, Popovici-Muller, Luneau 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 149
  24. May 14, 2026SenSen. Ward Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  25. May 14, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gray, Ward, Rosenwald; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  26. May 26, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 11:00 am GP 234
  27. Jun 2, 2026SenConference Committee Report; Not Signed Off; SJ 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

  • Summer EBTPrimary source

    USDA Food and Nutrition Service — The federal program, including the streamlined-certification provision the data sharing rests on.AI-generated

  • Summer nutrition programsAdvocacy

    Food Research & Action Center — Participation gaps and why automatic enrollment matters to reach.AI-generated

  • National School Lunch ProgramPrimary source

    USDA Food and Nutrition Service — The free and reduced-price eligibility determination that Summer EBT enrollment now piggybacks on.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.