MaineSchool units could fund meals at off-site public preschools
If funded, the Department of Education would offer school units grants to arrange meals for children at public preschools located off school grounds.
What it does
School units could receive grants to arrange breakfast, lunch, and a snack for students at public preschools run with community providers off school grounds. The listed state funding is for 2026–27.
To qualify, off-site preschools would need to meet public preschool, child care licensing, and food standards. Rules would also cover school units serving eligible children with disabilities through licensed child care partners.
Eligible school units could apply for up to $10,000 for improvements needed to provide meals, such as transportation or delivery. The amendment lists one-time start-up funding for 2026–27.
Argument forIf funded and eligible, preschoolers could get breakfast, lunch, and a snack at community sites, with grants helping cover meal delivery costs.
Argument againstProviders could face added licensing, food, and coordination demands before a school unit can qualify for meal grants.
More detail
The Department of Education would run a grant program for school administrative units. Grants would help school administrative units make agreements with providers of off-site public preschool programs to serve meals to students. The program depends on funding being available. The listed appropriations provide funding for 2026–27; the text gives no program start date.
The department would set eligibility rules for programs and school units seeking grants. The rules would cover off-site public preschool programs and school administrative units seeking grant participation. Programs must meet public preschool approval standards and child care licensing rules, and serve food meeting child care nutrition standards. Rules must cover school units partnering with licensed child care programs to deliver special education services to eligible children. A written agreement must explain meal delivery and reimbursement. The department would adopt the eligibility rules after consulting the Department of Health and Human Services.
The department could award extra grants for meal-related infrastructure improvements. The grants would be available to school units partnering with off-site public preschool programs. An eligible school administrative unit may apply for up to $10,000 for improvements such as meal transportation or delivery. The listed one-time start-up funding is $150,000 for 2026–27. The listed one-time start-up funding is for 2026–27.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Became Law
- Died
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 29Died in Possession of the Senate when the Legislature adjourned Sine Die and was PLACED IN THE LEGISLATIVE FILES. (DEAD)Died
- Mar 30On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence.
- Mar 26Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Mar 26PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Mar 25In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Vote recorded ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-568).Minor
- Mar 25Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Mar 25Committee Amendment "A" (S-568) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Mar 25The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Mar 25(Yeas 74 - Nays 66 - Absent 9 - Excused 1 - Vacant 1)
- Mar 25ROLL CALL NO. 671
- Mar 25On motion of Representative MURPHY of Scarborough, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
- Mar 25Reports READ.
- Mar 24Sent down for concurrence.
- Vote recorded ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 24Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-568)Minor
- Mar 24Committee Amendment "A" (S-568) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Mar 24Bill READ ONCE.Minor
- Mar 24Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 784 Yeas 23 - Nays 12 - Excused 0 - Absent 0
- Mar 24On motion by Senator RAFFERTY of York The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED.
- Mar 24Reports READ.
- Mar 20Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
- Feb 25Voted - Divided Report
- Feb 25Work Session Held
- Feb 11Work Session Held - TABLED
- 2025
- Dec 15Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 15, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2Introduced
EducationGovernment & EthicsTransportation