“House approves raising income cap on free and reduced-price school meals”

"New Hampshire lawmakers are considering expanding the free and reduced-price meal program in public schools to allow families with higher incomes to participate.

House Bill 572, which passed the House last week 201-177, would raise the cap on who can participate in the meals program to families making 300 percent of the federal poverty level. That translates to $90,000 of combined income for a family of four. 

The bill would be a major leap. In the current school year, free and reduced-price meals in New Hampshire are capped at 185 percent of the poverty level, or $51,338 of combined income for a family of four. 

An original version of the bill would require local school districts to pick up the tab for the additional lunches. But an amendment passed on the House floor last week specified that the expense would be covered by the state through the Education Trust Fund. The Department of Education has not yet released an estimate of how much the proposed changes would cost. "

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