MN HF149

Each Minnesota participant in the national school lunch program must adopt and post a written school meals policy addressing student meal charges, prohibited lunch shaming practices, collections agency use, and meal withdrawal restrictions.

Once a meal is placed on a tray or served to a student, it cannot be withdrawn by school staff regardless of outstanding meal balances; students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch must always receive a reimbursable meal.

State must pay participants 12.5 cents per full paid and free student lunch and 52.5 cents per reduced-price lunch served annually.

Schools must provide meals respectfully without demeaning or stigmatizing students through practices like dumping meals, announcing names publicly, or affixing stickers; schools cannot restrict student participation in activities, graduation ceremonies, field trips, or athletics due to unpaid meal balances.

If a school contracts with a third-party meal service provider, any contract entered into or modified after July 1, 2021, must require the vendor to adhere to the school's meal policy; violations result in commissioner noncompliance letters requiring remedy within 60 days.