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Read. Follow. Verify.Kansas establishes No Kid Hungry in Schools program to provide free meals and state aid
Last action · April 10, 2026: Died in CommitteeSponsors: Suzanne Wikle and 16 others
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What This Bill Proposed
Kansas House Bill 2656 establishes the No Kid Hungry in Schools program, administered by the State Board of Education, to provide participating school districts with state aid for free school breakfasts and lunches. School districts meeting specific thresholds are required to participate and must provide up to two free federally reimbursable meals per student per school day. The act also amends existing statutes governing school meal reimbursements and repeals prior sections.
Participating school districts receive state financial reimbursements for school breakfasts and lunches based on federal rates, while being mandated to provide free meals to students under certain eligibility thresholds. The legislation directly impacts school district food service operations, state education appropriations, and the cost of student meals.
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 apply to participate, meet mandatory student percentage thresholds, provide up to two free meals daily, and receive state aid reimbursements.
public school students
Students attending participating public schools are provided up to two federally reimbursable meals at no cost per school day.
State Board of Education
The board administers the program, determines application procedures, calculates state aid, prioritizes allocations if funds are prorated, and evaluates waiver requests.
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 is the No Kid Hungry in Schools program?
How is the amount of state aid calculated for participating school districts?
Are school districts required to participate in the program?
Can state funds received under this act be used to buy imported meats?
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
3 actions- Apr 10, 2026HouseDied in Committee
- Feb 3, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced
- Feb 3, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to House Committee on K-12 Education Budget
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.
Sponsors
Show 12 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory State-Backed Meal Program Integration
The bill ties state general fund appropriations directly to federal community eligibility provisions and mandates participation for school districts meeting specific identified student percentage thresholds.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.kslegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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