House approves raising income cap on free and reduced-price school meals

New Hampshire lawmakers are considering expanding the free and reduced-price meal program in public schools to allow families with higher incomes to participate.

House Bill 572, which passed the House last week 201-177, would raise the cap on who can participate in the meals program to families making 300 percent of the federal poverty level. That translates to $90,000 of combined income for a family of four. 

The bill would be a major leap. In the current school year, free and reduced-price meals in New Hampshire are capped at 185 percent of the poverty level, or $51,338 of combined income for a family of four. 

An original version of the bill would require local school districts to pick up the tab for the additional lunches. But an amendment passed on the House floor last week specified that the expense would be covered by the state through the Education Trust Fund. The Department of Education has not yet released an estimate of how much the proposed changes would cost. 

The bill is now in the Senate, and will receive a hearing in the Education Committee and a vote on the Senate floor in the coming weeks. 

Child hunger prevention advocates say expanding the free and reduced-price lunch program would be a boon for struggling families. 

But some Republican representatives oppose the change, noting that the federal government will only reimburse New Hampshire schools for up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level. That means the expansion would be borne by state taxpayers, opponents have warned. 

Currently, the free and reduced-price lunch program provides free meals to families making up to 135 percent of the federal poverty level, or $36,075 of combined income for a family of four. Those making up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level can access reduced-price meals, which brings lunches down from up to $4 per meal to 40 cents per meal. 

Free and reduced-price meal recipients can also get discounted or free breakfasts. But many school districts do not provide breakfasts, according to Laura Milliken, executive director at New Hampshire Hunger Solutions, an advocacy group.

New Hampshire Hunger Solutions argued in a statement to supporters this week that expanding the program will improve “children’s physical and mental health, and educational performance,” allow them “to focus more on their studies and less on receiving their next meal,” and “help families pressured by rising costs and inflation.”