School Food Modernization Act

This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide financial assistance for improving school meal programs. It establishes new mechanisms for funding facility upgrades and equipment purchases, alongside initiatives to enhance the skills of school food service personnel. The legislation aims to help schools provide healthier meals and operate their programs more effectively. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue loan guarantees , covering up to 80 percent of the principal, for the construction, remodeling, or expansion of school infrastructure and the purchase of durable equipment. It also creates an equipment grant program , starting in fiscal year 2026, offering competitive subgrants to local educational agencies and schools for necessary equipment. Both funding streams prioritize entities with substantial needs for infrastructure or equipment improvements. Additionally, the legislation establishes a competitive grant program for training and technical assistance for school food service personnel. These grants will support eligible third-party institutions in developing and delivering training to help staff meet nutrition standards and improve program efficiency. The federal share for these training grants is capped at 80 percent, requiring matching contributions from recipients. The bill reserves $300,000,000 in loan guarantee authority and authorizes annual appropriations for equipment grants ($35,000,000) and training grants ($10,000,000) from fiscal years 2026 through 2031, mandates a study on State administrative expense funds, and includes a $45,000,000 offset from Department of Education funds.