Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025.

Senator Pérez's Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025 establishes a statewide online application system for school meal benefits and creates new nutrition assistance programs for extended school breaks and emergency closures. The legislation requires the State Department of Education to develop a centralized website where families can apply for the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children program, with applications automatically routed to local educational agencies for eligibility determination.

The bill creates the Better Out of School Time (BOOST) Nutrition EBT Program to provide food assistance during school breaks lasting five or more days, excluding summer periods covered by Summer EBT. BOOST benefits would match federal reimbursement rates for free breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks. The Department of Education must also establish a complementary meal service program during these periods, allowing schools to distribute meals through both in-person and pickup options.

To streamline the application process, school districts and county offices of education would transition from paper applications to the statewide online system and alternative income verification forms, while maintaining paper options when required by federal law. The online portal must include links to related nutrition assistance programs, comply with federal privacy regulations, and offer translations in all threshold languages used for CalFresh. Implementation of both the BOOST program and expanded meal services depends on legislative appropriation of funds.