H.R. 9265 – To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require participat…

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Updated June 23, 2026 at 6:58 AM UTC

The bill changes the National School Lunch Act so that any state or covered Indian tribal organization that receives school‑lunch program funding must also join the summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) food assistance program. Participation is optional for the summers of 2024‑2026, but becomes a required condition starting in the summer of 2027. The rule applies to states, tribal organizations, and the schools and students they serve.

Key Provisions

States and covered tribal organizations may choose to join the summer EBT program for the summers of 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Beginning summer 2027, any state or tribal organization that participates in the school‑lunch program must also participate in the summer EBT program.
The Secretary of Education must set up an administrative and management plan for the program, with specific notification and plan‑submission deadlines (January 1 and February 15) for each fiscal year.
Amendments to existing sections of the National School Lunch Act adjust language and timelines to reflect the new optional‑then‑mandatory participation structure.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 11, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 11, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 11, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 11, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9265

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 11, 2026

Mr. Carson (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Brown, and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require participation in the summer EBT program as a condition of participating in the school lunch program, and for other purposes.

1.

Summer EBT participation

(a)

Program participation

Section 13A(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1762(a)) is amended—

(1)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—

(A)

by striking electing to participate in such program and inserting described in paragraph (2);

(B)

by striking beginning with summer 2024 and annually;

(C)

by striking thereafter; and

(D)

by striking The Secretary shall and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall

;

(2)

by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B); and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

States and covered Indian Tribal organizations

(A)

Summers 2024–26

With respect to summers 2024, 2025, and 2026, States and covered Indian Tribal organizations described in this paragraph are States and covered Indian Tribal organizations electing to participate in the program established under paragraph (1).

(B)

Summer 2027 and beyond

With respect to summer 2027 and each summer thereafter, States and covered Indian Tribal organizations described in this paragraph are—

(i)

States participating in the school lunch program under this Act; and

(ii)

covered Indian Tribal organizations—

(I)

participating in the school lunch program under this Act; or

(II)

electing to participate in the program established under paragraph (1).

.

(b)

Program requirements

Section 13A(c)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1762(c)(1)) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking elect to.

(c)

Administrative and management plan

(1)

In general

Section 13A(g) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1762(g)) is amended—

(A)

by striking Beginning in 2024 and inserting the following:

(1)

Summers 2024–26

With respect to the years 2024, 2025, and 2026

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Summer 2027 and beyond

Beginning in 2027, each State required to participate in the program under this section shall comply with the requirements under section 13(n)(3).

.

(2)

Conforming amendments

Section 13(n) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(n)(2)) is amended—

(A)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

in the heading for such paragraph, by striking and beyond and inserting through summer 2026; and

(ii)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Beginning in 2024 and inserting With respect to the years 2024, 2025, and 2026; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(3)

Summer 2027 and beyond

Beginning in 2027, each State desiring to participate in the program under this section or required to participate in the summer EBT program under section 13A shall—

(A)

with respect to the program under this section, notify the Secretary by January 1 of each year of its intent to administer such program; and

(B)

with respect to the program under this section and the summer EBT program under section 13A, submit for approval by February 15 a management and administration plan for the applicable program for the fiscal year, which shall include, as applicable, the information described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (2).

.

(d)

Participation requirement

Section 13A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1762(g)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (g) the following:

(h)

Participation requirement

Beginning with summer 2027, a State that participates in the school lunch program under this Act shall participate in the program under this section.

.