The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 seeks to establish universal free school breakfasts and lunches for all children. It amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to remove all eligibility requirements for free meals, ensuring that every child enrolled in a participating school receives breakfast and lunch without charge. Key provisions include setting national average payment rates for free breakfasts at $3.28 and free lunches at $5.42, both adjusted annually for inflation. The bill explicitly prohibits schools from collecting any debt owed for unpaid meal charges and bans practices that shame or discriminate against children based on meal debt. Furthermore, it eliminates all references to "reduced price" meals throughout the relevant acts. The legislation introduces an additional payment for school food authorities that use locally-sourced farm products for at least 25 percent of their meals, providing an incentive for local food procurement. This additional payment is set at $0.30 for lunches and suppers, $0.21 for breakfasts, and $0.08 for supplements, also subject to annual inflation adjustments. Beyond school meals, the bill expands access to other child nutrition programs. The Summer Food Service Program will now be available to all children, with the Secretary authorized to waive program requirements that limit access. Payments for summer meals are extended to cover school vacations, teacher in-service days, and school closures due to unforeseen circumstances. The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program (Summer EBT) will see an adjusted benefit amount of $60 per eligible child per month for calendar year 2026, with future adjustments tied to the cost of the diet. Eligibility for Summer EBT and other programs is clarified to focus on "economically disadvantaged students" rather than direct certification for free or reduced-price meals. The Child and Adult Care Food Program and programs providing meals and supplements for children in afterschool care are also updated to provide all meals and supplements for free. Reimbursement rates for these programs are aligned with the new free breakfast and lunch rates established in the bill. A significant component of the bill is the establishment of a program to reimburse schools for all existing delinquent meal debt owed by parents or guardians as of the effective date. This program aims to clear outstanding balances and provide a fresh start for schools transitioning to universal free meals. Finally, the bill mandates a shift in how poverty is measured for various federal education and assistance programs. Instead of relying on eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch, programs will identify "economically disadvantaged students" using a new template survey and direct certification data. This change necessitates conforming amendments across numerous acts, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Higher Education Act, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and others, to ensure consistency with the new universal meal provisions.