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Read. Follow. Verify.Mississippi requires qualifying school districts to apply for federal community eligibility meal programs starting July 2026
Last action · February 3, 2026: 02/03 (H) Died In CommitteeSponsor: Daryl Porter
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What This Bill Proposed
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-137, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE AN IDENTIFIED STUDENT PERCENTAGE OF 25% OR MORE OF ENROLLED STUDENTS RECEIVING FREE LUNCH, AS DETERMINED BY PRIOR YEAR ENROLLMENT, TO APPLY TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE (FNS) FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROGRAMS, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM AND SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM FREE TO ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED AT A PARTICULAR SCHOOL OR IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT REGARDLESS OF REPORTED INCOME; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Qualifying school districts must submit eligibility data by April 1 and completed applications by June 30, potentially shifting entire school populations to universal free breakfast and lunch programs unless granted a financial waiver by the State Superintendent for Public Education.
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
Qualifying school districts must submit identified student percentage data by April 1 and completed applications to FNS by June 30 unless granted a financial waiver.
Public elementary and secondary school students
Students enrolled in schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision receive free national school lunch and breakfast programs regardless of reported income.
Key Facts
- School districts with an identified student percentage (ISP) of 25% or higher in the prior school year must apply to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service for participation in the Community Eligibility Provision.
- Completed applications for the Community Eligibility Provision must be submitted to FNS by June 30 of the request year.
- School boards are permitted to group elementary or secondary schools together within a school division when applying for the CEP.
- The State Superintendent for Public Education must issue a waiver from the application requirement if an evaluation determines that participation is not financially viable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which schools are required to apply for the Community Eligibility Provision under this bill?
What are the key application deadlines set by the legislation?
Can a school district be excused from this requirement?
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
2 actions- Feb 3, 2026House02/03 (H) Died In Committee
- Jan 16, 2026HouseCommittee01/16 (H) Referred To Education
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
Connected Entities
Sources
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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