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Ending School Meal Shame: Mandatory Free Meal Certification and Debt Protection.

This Act prohibits schools from shaming or discriminating against students whose families owe school meal debt. It ensures children receive meals without stigma and prevents schools from withholding grades or extracurricular activities due to unpaid fees. Furthermore, schools must proactively attempt to enroll indebted students in free meal programs.
Key points
No Stigma: Schools are banned from overtly identifying or segregating children with meal debt (e.g., special tokens, public lists, taking away served food).
Protection of Rights: Schools cannot withhold educational opportunities, such as grades or participation in extracurricular activities, due to unpaid meal fees.
Mandatory Enrollment Attempt: If a household owes a week or more of fees, the school must attempt mandatory direct certification for free meals.
Debt Collection Ban: Schools are prohibited from using external debt collectors to recover unpaid meal fees.
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_HR_9878
Sponsor: Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
Process start date: 2024-09-27
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

No Shame at School Act of 2024

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_HR_9878.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2024-09-27.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • No Stigma: Schools are banned from overtly identifying or segregating children with meal debt (e.g., special tokens, public lists, taking away served food).
  • Protection of Rights: Schools cannot withhold educational opportunities, such as grades or participation in extracurricular activities, due to unpaid meal fees.
  • Mandatory Enrollment Attempt: If a household owes a week or more of fees, the school must attempt mandatory direct certification for free meals.
  • Debt Collection Ban: Schools are prohibited from using external debt collectors to recover unpaid meal fees.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

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