HB2186 Summary

• Schools must provide nutritionally compliant meals to all students who request them, regardless of payment status or meal debt owed.

• Schools are prohibited from publicizing student names with unpaid fees, using separate serving lines, hand stamps, or other identifying markers for students with debt.

• Schools cannot enlist others to collect from students, dispose of meals, require work in exchange for meals, attempt collection from students directly, or deny/delay meals as punishment.

• Schools may collect unpaid fees from parents or guardians directly but cannot use debt collectors; they must establish and publish a transparent fee resolution policy.

• School districts and charter schools may create payment plans or establish meal fee debt funds using donations to cover students' unpaid meal fees.