H.R. 1168 – School Lunch Affordability Act of 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 3:57 AM UTC

The School Lunch Affordability Act of 2023 changes the National School Lunch Act so that only school food authorities that had a negative balance in their nonprofit school food service account on June 30 of the year before the previous school year are required to set a price for paid lunches. This targets schools that are financially in the red, aiming to reduce the burden of paid lunch pricing on those districts. It affects any public or private school district that runs a federally assisted lunch program.

Key Provisions

Amends Section 12(p)(2)(A) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to add a condition that a school food authority must have a negative balance in its nonprofit school food service account on June 30 of the year preceding the previous school year before it is required to establish a price for paid lunches.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1427)

March 24, 2023

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 24, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

February 24, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1427)

March 24, 2023

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 1168 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Mark AlfordR-MO-4 · Mar 24, 2023

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance of ensuring that all students are fed in a nutritious and affordable manner. I am proud to have introduced H.R. 1168, the School Lunch…

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued February 24, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1168

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 24, 2023

Mr. Alford (for himself and Ms. Schrier) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require that only a school food authority that had a negative balance in the nonprofit school food service account on June 30th of the year preceding the previous school year shall be required to establish a price for paid lunches.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the School Lunch Affordability Act of 2023.

2.

Required price for paid lunch

Section 12(p)(2)(A) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(p)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting that had a negative balance in the nonprofit school food service account on June 30th of the year preceding the previous school year after school food authority.