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SB1809 • 2026

Local Education Agencies

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to school meals.

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Kyle, Clemmons
Last action
2026-03-18
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how existing laws are updated, only that it amends Title 49 of the Tennessee Code Annotated.

School Meals for All Students

This act requires local schools in Tennessee to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, with state funding covering the costs after federal funds are used.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires each school board to create a program that gives free meals (breakfast and lunch) to every student enrolled in their jurisdiction.
  • The state will pay back the local education agencies for providing these free meals after using any available federal money.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local school boards
  • Students enrolled in schools under local board jurisdiction

Terms To Know

LEA
Local Education Agency, which is a term used for the organization that manages public schools.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact amount of money local education agencies will need or save is hard to predict.
  • Some school districts might have less money coming in and more going out when they start providing these free meals.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in Education Committee

  2. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee

  3. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026

  4. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 3/24/2026

  5. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/18/2026

  6. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/18/2026

  7. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/17/2026

  8. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 3/17/2026

  9. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  10. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026

  11. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026

  12. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education Committee

  13. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 3/3/2026

  14. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  15. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  16. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  17. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee

  18. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  19. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  20. 2025-12-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1458
By Clemmons

SENATE BILL 1809
By Kyle
SB1809
009879
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to school meals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-2302, is amended by deleting
the section and substituting instead the following:
(a) Each local school board shall establish a school lunch program and a school
breakfast program that provide a free breakfast and lunch to each student enrolled in a
school under the board's jurisdiction in accordance with rules promulgated under § 49-6-
2303.
(b) The state shall reimburse each LEA the cost of providing a free breakfast
and lunch to each student enrolled in the LEA after all federal funds available pursuant
to the national school lunch program created by the National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. §§ 1751-1769), the school breakfast program created by the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. §§ 1771-1789), or another federal program have been applied.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-2303, is amended by deleting
the language ", regardless of its participation" in subdivision (5) and by deleting subdivision (10).
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to the 2026-2027 school year and each school year thereafter.