HB 646-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0023
02/05
HOUSE BILL 646-FN-LOCAL
SPONSORS: Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Rep. Seibert, Hills. 21; Rep. Levesque, Straf. 4; Rep. Weinstein, Rock. 10; Rep. Kluger, Hills. 6; Rep. M. Murray, Hills. 37; Sen. Long, Dist 20
COMMITTEE: Education Funding
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ANALYSIS
This bill directs the department of education to adopt rules to require school districts to offer online and physical free or reduced price school meals applications. It also requires the department to provide administrative and technical assistance to districts for this purpose and makes an appropriation therefor.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0023
02/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Food and Nutrition Programs. Amend RSA 189:11-a by inserting after paragraph VIII the following new paragraph:
IX. The department of education shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A requiring school districts to offer online and physical free or reduced price school meals applications. The department of education shall provide any administrative or technical assistance to school districts establishing an online application for free or reduced price school meals and whose school meal programs are approved to operate through the United States Department of Agriculture. School districts eligible for administrative or technical assistance or funding in these provisions shall be those approved to operate federal school meal programs through the United States Department of Agriculture.
2 Appropriation; Department of Education. The sum of $102,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 and the sum of $104,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027 are hereby appropriated to the department of education, for the establishment of a miscellaneous business operations specialist position to administer the provisions of this act. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
3 Appropriation; Department of Education. The sum of $1,000,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, is hereby appropriated to the department of education, for the purpose of providing school districts software for establishing an online application for free or reduced price school meals. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
25-0023
Revised 1/27/25
HB 646-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Department of Education Position Indeterminable (Up to $102,000 in FY 2026 and $104,000 in FY 2027)
Software Indeterminable (up to $1,000,000) | Indeterminable | |||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | Department of Education Position $102,000 in FY 2026 and $104,000 in FY 2027
Software $1,000,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027 | $0 | |||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to provide a complete fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, as it is awaiting information from the Department of Education. The Department was originally contacted on 01/04/25 for a fiscal note worksheet. When completed, a revised fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office.
METHODOLOGY:
This bill directs the Department of Education to adopt rules to require school districts to offer online and physical free or reduced-price school meals applications and requires the Department to provide administrative and technical assistance to districts for this purpose. This bill provides the following general fund appropriations to the Department:
It can assumed that all funds would be expended in the fiscal year(s) to which they are appropriated. However, estimates as to timing or amount of expenditures, or start date for the new position, have not been provided. Any unexpended funds would lapse back to the general fund. This bill's potential impact in FY 2028, and beyond, is unknown.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2025 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 22, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/28/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
Jan. 21, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Funding HJ 3