Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2026
Adds extra federal reimbursement for each school lunch and breakfast served by school food authorities.
In the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee since Sept. 23, 2026, 12 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 23, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
School meal programs use federal reimbursements to help pay for meals served to students. The bill would add a payment for each school lunch and breakfast covered by the measure. Those amounts would begin to adjust in 2027.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Adds reimbursement for each school lunch
Starting October 1, 2026, each lunch served by a school food authority would receive an additional 45 cents. The amount would be adjusted beginning July 1, 2027.
- Adds reimbursement for school breakfasts
Starting October 1, 2026, each free, reduced-price, and other breakfast served by a school food authority would receive an additional 28 cents. The amount would be adjusted beginning July 1, 2027.
The practical stakes are the federal cost of school-meal reimbursements and the amount school food authorities receive for each covered meal. The bill would make the added payments independent of performance measures.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 23, 2026SENATESEP 23, 2026By Sen. Heinrich with 11 original cosponsorsReferred to Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 23, 2026AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, & FORESTRY NOWSEP 23, 2026In committee for 12 daysNo hearing yet
- 12 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 232026SEP 23, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- SEP 232026SEP 23, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 12, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
A coalition from 13 states
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Heinrich’s record: sponsored 62 bills this Congress. 5 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Michael F. BennetD-COORIGINAL
- Cory A. BookerD-NJORIGINAL
- John FettermanD-PAORIGINAL
- Kirsten E. GillibrandD-NYORIGINAL
- Andy KimD-NJORIGINAL
- Alex PadillaD-CAORIGINAL
- Jack ReedD-RIORIGINAL
- Jacky RosenD-NVORIGINAL
- Jeanne ShaheenD-NHORIGINAL
- Chris Van HollenD-MDORIGINAL
- Ron WydenD-ORORIGINAL
- Richard BlumenthalD-CTSEP 24, 2026
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