The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Kansas bill requires school boards to evaluate free-meal program participation and allows financial hardship opt-outs
Last action · April 10, 2026: Died on Calendar
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What This Bill Proposed
Kansas school districts eligible for a federal free-meal program must evaluate participation annually, adopt a resolution to join if feasible, or formally declare a financial hardship exemption in an open public meeting.
Changes meal program evaluation requirements for local school boards across Kansas, establishing a formal public process for opting out based on financial hardship while directing state education officials to provide assistance.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
school districts
School districts must evaluate federal meal program eligibility annually, vote on formal resolutions regarding participation, or publicly demonstrate financial hardship to opt out.
State Department of Education
The department is required to provide assistance to school districts seeking to participate in the community eligibility provision.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a school board do if it qualifies for the federal free-meal program?
Can a school district decline to participate in the program?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died in committee.
Procedural history
7 actions- Apr 10, 2026SenateDied on Calendar
- Mar 11, 2026SenateFloorCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by
- Mar 5, 2026SenateHearing: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 1:30 PM — Room 144-S
- Feb 24, 2026SenateWithdrawn from Senate Committee on Education; Rereferred to Senate Committee on Education
- Feb 19, 2026SenateWithdrawn from Senate Committee on Ways and Means; Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means
- Feb 3, 2026SenateCommitteeReferred to Senate Committee on Education
Show 1 earlier action
- Feb 2, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.kslegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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