NH SB204

Authorizes local school boards to vote to raise free school meal eligibility from the federal standard (185% of poverty) to 200% of the federal poverty level

Establishes a cost-sharing formula where the state reimburses 50% of the difference between federal free meal rates and paid/reduced-price meal rates, with local districts covering the remaining 50%

Appropriates $107,000 for Department of Education administrative costs and $250,000 for school district reimbursements and online application software through June 30, 2026

Requires the Department of Education to adopt rules mandating participating districts offer both online and paper applications for free meals, and to provide technical assistance to districts

Estimated potential state reimbursement costs of approximately $7 million annually if all eligible districts participate, based on roughly 12,464 students (10% of paid students) who could qualify under the expanded threshold