TX HB2526

School districts using prepaid meal cards or accounts must adopt grace period policies allowing students with exhausted balances to continue purchasing regular meals for at least one week through negative balances or credit extensions

Districts must make at least three private attempts during the grace period to notify parents of the balance issue, arrange payment plans, and assist with applications for free or reduced-price meals if the student may be eligible

After the grace period expires and required outreach is completed, districts must continue providing regular meals to the student at no cost

Districts cannot charge fees or interest on grace period meals, cannot transfer negative balances to subsequent school years, and may use private donations to cover unpaid balances

Students cannot be held back a grade, denied graduation or a diploma, or prohibited from school activities due to meal account debt, and districts must avoid publicly identifying or stigmatizing students with negative balances