HB 2238 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Creates the "Hayes Act" governing school meals

HB 2238, the "Hayes Act," requires schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program (but not the Community Eligibility Provision) to provide free lunches to students approved for reduced-price meals. It mandates state reimbursement to schools for the cost difference between actual lunch expenses and federal reimbursement rates, using a dedicated "School Meals Fund" for this purpose. The bill prohibits schools from publicly identifying students eligible for free/reduced meals and ensures applications are used solely for federal reimbursement and state aid calculations. This policy change directly affects participating schools and students qualifying for meal assistance, with funding dependent on state appropriations.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Dec 8, 2025 Last action May 15, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 15, 2026
Committee
Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
lower
Dec 8, 2025
Introduced
Prefiled (H)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors