Section 1. Section 53F-2-423 is amended to read:53F-2-423. School meal program.(1)As used in this section:(a)"Education model health and wellness policy on nutrition" means state board policy emphasizing that an LEA promote efficient meal scheduling, provide adequate time for eating, and implement practices that help reduce food waste.(b)"Eligible student" means a student enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 who qualifies for reduced-price meals based on household size and income levels under the National School Lunch Program.(c)"National School Lunch Program" means the same as that term is defined in 7 C.F.R. Sec. 210.2.(d)"Share table program" means a system in a school where a student may return unopened, uneaten food or beverages to a designated location for redistribution to other students.(2)An LEA participating in the National School Lunch Program shall provide lunch to an eligible student on a school day at no charge.(3)The state board:(a)shall:(i)subject to legislative appropriations, reimburse an LEA for each reimbursable lunch provided under this section in an amount equal to the difference between the federal reimbursement rates for a meal and a reduced-price meal, as determined annually by the United States Department of Agriculture;(ii)establish a reimbursement system where the board provides a monthly reimbursement to an LEA that provides a meal under Subsection (2); and(iii)accept private donations and grants for the purpose of funding the school meal program described in this section; and(b)may provide guidance and support to a school implementing the food waste prevention strategies described in Subsection (6).(4)An LEA may not:(a)publicly identify or stigmatize a student unable to pay for a meal; or(b)require a student to perform chores to pay for a meal unless the requirement applies equally to all students regardless of whether the student pays for the meal.(5)An LEA shall direct communications regarding a student's meal debt only to the student's parent.(6)An LEA participating in the National School Lunch Program shall consider, where feasible, reducing food waste by:(a) following the education model health and wellness policy on nutrition; and.(b)establishing a share table program.(7)An LEA shall establish and implement a share table program at each school within the LEA's jurisdiction.(7)(8)(a)Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(a)(i), if appropriations are insufficient to fully reimburse each LEA for the cost of a reimbursable lunch described in this section, the state board shall distribute the available funds in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year to each LEA on a pro rata basis, not exceeding the available funds.(b)An LEA may ask the parent of an eligible student to cover the remaining cost of a subsidized lunch under this section.

Section 2. Section 53G-7-1207 is enacted to read:53G-7-1207. School lunch planning meeting.A school community council shall:(1)in accordance with the requirements of Section 53G-7-1203, hold a school lunch planning meeting to:(a)discuss how to best achieve the school lunch target goal defined in Section 53G-9-216;(b)create a plan for the school's lunch and recess times, including how much seated time a student will have to eat lunch and if midday recess will be before or after lunch;(c)review and discuss the research the state board provides in accordance with Subsection 53G-9-216(4), on:(i)recess schedules; and(ii)student eating time;(2)ensure that the meeting described in Subsection (1)(a):(a)is open to members of the public; and(b)allows for public comment during the course of the meeting without the requirement that a member of the public sign up to speak before the meeting starts;(3)at least one week in advance of the date on which the meeting is set to occur, notify each parent of a student enrolled at the school of:(a)the research that the school community council plans to review and discuss at the planning meeting, in accordance with Subsection (1)(c);(b)the meeting's time; and(c)the meeting's location;(4)hold the meeting described in Subsection (1)(a):(a)once per year for five years; or(b)until the school community council's plan meets the school lunch target goal defined in Section 53G-9-216; and(5)after holding the meeting described in Subsection (1)(a):(a)send a survey to each parent of a student enrolled at the school through email to collect the parent's input on the school lunch plan;(b)report to the state board on the agreed upon plan discussed at the meeting; and(c)if the school community council does not meet the school lunch target goal defined in Section 53G-9-216, provide a written explanation to the state board detailing why the school community council failed to implement the school lunch target goal.

Section 3. Section 53G-9-216 is enacted to read:53G-9-216. School lunch target goal.(1)As used in this section:(a)"School" means a district or charter school that provides instruction to a student in grades kindergarten, one, two, three, four, five, or six.(b)"School lunch target goal" means a minimum standard that each school seeks to achieve by:(i)providing a student with a minimum of 20 minutes of seated eating time to consume lunch; and(ii)scheduling lunch recess to occur immediately prior to the lunch period in the daily schedule.(2)(a)A school shall hold an annual planning meeting to:(i)plan how the school can work toward achieving the school lunch target goal; and(ii)discuss how the school plans to comply with the requirements of Section 53G-9-217.(b)After holding the annual planning meeting described in Subsection (2)(a) a school shall:(i)affirmatively work toward the target goal; or(ii)in accordance with Subsection (3), affirmatively choose to explain the failure to follow the target goal to the state board.(3)A school shall provide a written explanation to the state board that states the reasons the school failed to implement the school lunch target goal if:(a)the school does not implement the school lunch target goal after the required annual meeting described in Subsection (2)(a); or(b)a school that implements the school lunch target goal later chooses to no longer follow the school lunch target goal.(4)The state board shall:(a)research best practices in schools on:(i)recess scheduling; and(ii)student eating time; and(b)provide the results of the research described in Subsection (4)(a) to:(i)each school; and(ii)each school community council in accordance with Section 53G-7-1207.

Section 4. Section 53G-9-217 is enacted to read:53G-9-217. Recess in an elementary school.(1)As used in this section:(a)"Elementary school" means a district or charter school that provides instruction to a student in grades kindergarten, one, two, three, four, or five.(b)"Elementary school student" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-7-501.(2)An elementary school may not:(a)withhold, from an elementary school student, recess, physical education, or other physical activity, as a punishment for:(i)poor behavior;(ii)incomplete classwork; or(iii)remediation purposes; and(b)reduce the total minutes of daily recess for any grade level to meet the school lunch target goal as that term is defined in Section 53G-9-216.(3)Notwithstanding Subsection (2), an educator or administrator may withhold recess, physical education, or other physical activities from an elementary school student if:(a)the restriction is consistent with the elementary student's:(i)IEP; or(ii)Section 504 accommodation plan; or(b)there is an immediate or significant risk to the health or safety of the elementary student or others.

Section 5. Effective Date.This bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.