Stop Child Hunger Act Expands Summer EBT Benefits to Cover Unexpected School Closures

The “Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025” aims to make sure kids don’t lose access to meals when schools suddenly shut down—a problem we all became very familiar with a few years ago. Essentially, this bill takes the existing Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program and expands it significantly. Now, benefits aren't just for summer break; they also kick in during any “school closure period” lasting five or more weekdays. This covers everything from snow days to unexpected health crises or even extended remote learning scenarios.

The Unexpected School Closure Safety Net

For parents, this is a major safety net. If a school goes hybrid or fully remote for a week or more, the benefits automatically start flowing to eligible families. The bill mandates that the benefit amount must cover the cost of free breakfast, lunch, and a snack for every single day of that closure period, calculated at the highest available rate (SEC. 2). Think of it this way: if your kid qualifies for free meals, this bill ensures that the grocery money equivalent shows up on your EBT card when the school cafeteria isn't running. This provision is designed to keep food insecurity from spiking when the school routine gets disrupted, offering critical stability for low-income families.

Who Pays for the Paperwork?

While the benefit expansion is great news for families, the bill introduces a slow-burn challenge for state governments—the folks who actually run the program. The federal government is helping states get ready for this expansion by offering $50 million in grants to upgrade the data systems needed to track all these closures and process payments (SEC. 2). However, the long-term plan for administrative costs is a phased reduction of federal support. In fiscal year 2026, the feds cover 100% of the state’s admin costs. But that coverage drops by 10 percentage points every year after that, hitting 50% by fiscal year 2031. This means that while states get a fully funded head start, they will eventually have to absorb a growing share of the program’s operational expenses into their own budgets starting in FY 2027. State officials will need to plan for this increasing financial responsibility, especially as the program expands to cover more closure scenarios.

Implementation Check: Data and Definitions

The success of this program hinges on two things: data and definitions. First, states need to use that $50 million grant money wisely to build robust data systems that can quickly identify eligible kids and process payments when a school closure hits. If the system is slow, the benefits won't arrive in time to help. Second, the definition of a “school closure period” includes when a school is running “remotely” or using a “hybrid model” for five or more days. This is where things could get slightly vague. Clear guidance will be needed from federal regulators to ensure states aren't applying this too narrowly or too broadly. For a working parent who relies on the school for meals, understanding precisely when that five-day clock starts ticking will be key to budgeting and planning.