School nutrition; requiring certain federal funds to be used to provide certain school meals. Effective date. Emergency.

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STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL 1374 By: Reinhardt

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

An Act relating to school nutrition; defining terms;
requiring certain federal funds to be used to provide
free school meals to qualifying students; prohibiting
schools from charging qualifying students for
reduced-price meals; allowing disbursement of funds
in certain circumstances; allowing schools to use
other authorized funds to provide free meals to
qualifying students in certain circumstances;
requiring the State Department of Education to
electronically submit certain report; providing
contents of report; requiring certain office to
conduct certain audit of child nutrition programs;
requiring electronic submission of certain audit
findings; providing for codification; providing an
effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3-119.2 of Title 70, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. As used in this section:

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1. “Child nutrition program” includes the following as
established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act,
42 U.S.C., 1751 et seq.:
a. the National School Lunch Program, or
b. the School Breakfast Program; and
2. “Qualifying student” means a student in kindergarten through
twelfth grade who is enrolled in a public school in this state and
who is eligible for receipt of a reduced-price meal in a child
nutrition program.
B. Federal funds appropriated to the State Department of
Education for a child nutrition program shall be used to provide
school breakfasts and lunches at no cost to each qualifying student.
C. A public school that serves a school breakfast or a school
lunch as part of a child nutrition program shall not charge a
qualifying student a reduced-price co-payment for a school breakfast
or a school lunch.
D. 1. If necessary to comply with the requirements of this
section, the Department shall provide funds that have been disbursed
to the Department from the federal government for purposes of
funding child nutrition programs in each public school that serves a
school breakfast or a school lunch as part of a child nutrition
program to cover the cost of eliminating reduced-price co-payments
as required by subsection C of this section.

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2. If federal funds appropriated to the Department for a child
nutrition program are insufficient to provide a school breakfast or
a school lunch at no cost pursuant paragraph 1 of this subsection,
the Department shall use funds as authorized by law to provide a
school breakfast or a school lunch not initially covered by federal
funds under subsection B of this section or other funds as
authorized by law.
E. Annually by November 15, the State Department of Education
shall electronically submit a report to the Legislature with an
overview of each child nutrition program offered in public schools.
The report shall include without limitation:
1. The procedure for applying for free or reduced-price meals
in public schools; and
2. The number of students who:
a. apply for free or reduced-price meals,
b. are accepted to receive free or reduced-price meals,
c. are denied from receiving free or reduced-price meals,
and
d. automatically qualify for free or reduced-price meals
based on federal eligibility requirements.
F. The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency shall audit
the State Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs by
December 15, 2026, and electronically report the audit findings to

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the Legislature. The audit shall determine whether each public
school’s participation in a child nutrition program effectively:
1. Serves the intent of the Legislature to expand students’
access to free meals in public schools; and
2. Complies with federal and state laws and rules.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

60-2-3659 EB 2/24/2026 5:36:35 PM