MN HF18

Requires each Minnesota school participating in the national school lunch program to adopt and post a written school meal policy in multiple languages that prohibits lunch shaming and prohibits ostracizing students due to meal debt.

Mandates that school meal debt collection be conducted only by trained school staff communicating exclusively with parents or guardians, and prohibits schools from using collection agencies or withdrawing meals already served to students.

Ensures students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches receive reimbursable meals without charge regardless of outstanding debt, and prohibits schools from restricting student participation in school activities, graduation ceremonies, field trips, athletics, or extracurricular activities due to unpaid meal balances.

Establishes state reimbursement rates of 12.5 cents per full-price or free lunch and 52.5 cents per reduced-price lunch served to students.

Requires third-party meal service vendors to adhere to the school's meal policy in any contracts entered into or modified on or after July 1, 2020, and mandates school nutrition staff receive training on the policy.