New HampshireState requires automatic summer food benefit enrollment for eligible students
New Hampshire requires automatic enrollment in Summer EBT, a summer food benefit program, for students approved for free or reduced-price meals unless a parent or guardian opts out.
What it does
Students approved for free or reduced-price meals are enrolled in Summer EBT unless a parent or guardian returns an opt-out form within 15 days of receiving the school meal decision.
The Education Department must send each eligible student’s name, birth date, and home address to the Health and Human Services Department for Summer EBT enrollment. It cannot send other identifying details.
Student information shared for Summer EBT must stay private, be used only to run and distribute benefits, and be deleted after each summer’s distribution unless federal law requires keeping it.
Argument forEligible students whose families do not opt out could receive summer food benefits without a separate enrollment step.
Argument againstSharing students’ names, birth dates, and addresses between agencies could worry families about privacy, even with limits on use and deletion.
More detail
Eligible students are automatically enrolled in Summer EBT, a summer food benefit program. This covers students approved for free or reduced-price school meals. Schools must give a parent or guardian a separate opt-out form with the school meal decision. The 15-day period starts when the parent or guardian receives the school meal decision. This rule took effect July 15, 2026.
The Education Department must send specified student information to the Health and Human Services Department. This covers each student eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. The transfer is for automatic Summer EBT enrollment. No other identifying information may be sent under this section. This requirement took effect July 15, 2026.
State agencies must keep the shared student information confidential. These rules cover student information sent by the Education Department for Summer EBT. The information may be used only to run and distribute Summer EBT benefits. Health and Human Services must use a secure electronic system to receive it. The information must be deleted when distribution for that summer is complete, unless federal law requires otherwise.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 20Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte Ayotte 07/15/2026; Chapter 331; eff. I. Secs 2&3 eff as prov sec 4 II Rem eff 07/15/2026Became Law
- Jul 6Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15To Governor
- Jul 6Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 56
- Jun 23Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2195e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 55
- Jun 23Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2195e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14Major
- Jun 4Conference Committee Report 2026-2113c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 13
- Jun 4Conference Committee Report # 2026-2113c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
- May 28Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2113c; 06/04/2026
- May 27Conference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 10:00 am GP 231
- May 22Conferee Change: Rep. DeRoy Replaces Rep. Slottje 05/22/2026 HJ 14 P. 34
- May 20President Appoints: Senators Pearl, Lang, Reardon; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
- May 20Sen. Pearl Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
- May 14Speaker Appoints: Reps. Layon, Thibault, Slottje, Dargie 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 149
- May 14House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1748s and Requests CofC (Rep. Layon): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 149
- May 7Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1748s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11Passed Senate
- May 7Committee Amendment # 2026-1748s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
- Apr 29Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1748s, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 17Minor
- Mar 25Hearing: 04/01/2026, Room 103, SH, 10:00 am; SC 12
- Mar 17Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 7Minor
- Mar 11Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0847h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 44Passed House
- Mar 11Amendment # 2026-0847h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 43
- Mar 2Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0847h 02/18/2026 (Vote 14-1; CC) HC 10 P. 21Minor
- Mar 2Executive Session: 02/18/2026 03:05 pm GP 231
- Jan 8Public Hearing: 01/14/2026 03:05 pm GP 231
- 2025
- Dec 17Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 1 P. 33Introduced
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