Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2026
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (24 Sep 2026): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
What this bill does
The Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2026, if passed, would amend the National School Lunch Act to exclude certain military housing allowances from the calculation of household income. This change could potentially affect the eligibility of children in military families for free or reduced-price school meals. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to submit a report by October 1, 2026.
This report would explore the feasibility and cost of directly certifying children from military households for school meal programs without requiring additional applications. The report would consider options such as using data from other military assistance programs and excluding income not earned by service members from household income calculations for eligibility purposes.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on September 24, 2026, by Senator Andy Kim, and has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It has not yet been passed by either chamber of Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
24 Sep 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Common questions
- What does S. 5495 do?
- The Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2026, if passed, would amend the National School Lunch Act to exclude certain military housing allowances from the calculation of household income. This change could potentially affect the eligibility of children in military families for free or reduced-price school meals. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to submit a report by October 1, 2026. This report would explore the feasibility and cost of directly certifying children from military households for school meal programs without requiring additional applications. The report would consider options such as using data from other military assistance programs and excluding income not earned by service members from household income calculations for eligibility purposes. The bill was introduced in the Senate on September 24, 2026, by Senator Andy Kim, and has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It has not yet been passed by either chamber of Congress.
- Has S. 5495 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 5495. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 5495?
- S. 5495 was sponsored by Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 5495?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (24 Sep 2026).
Related bills in Agriculture and Food
Improving Access to WIC Act
Expressing support for the designation of October 4 through October 10, 2026, as "National 4-H Week".
RAISE Act of 2026
Red Meat Inspection Exemption Act
More bills from Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NEST Act
Honest Services Fraud Improvement Act
No Gratuities for Governing Act of 2026
Anti-Bribery Improvement Act
Bill100 mirrors the public U.S. legislative record from Congress.gov and GovTrack and adds plain-English AI summaries. It is an information tool, not legal, compliance or lobbying advice, and it is not affiliated with the U.S. Congress or any government agency. AI summaries can simplify or omit detail — every bill links to the official source; verify there before you rely on it.