H.R. 3217 — Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025

This section expands the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program—under which states and Indian Tribal organizations issue benefits to eligible households for children to purchase food during summer months—to also cover school closure periods (i.e., when elementary or secondary schools are closed, remote, or hybrid for 5+ consecutive weekdays in a calendar year). (1) It revises the benefit amount for calendar year 2025 and thereafter to not less than the value of breakfast, lunch, and a snack at the free rate (as defined in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act) for each day of the summer months or school closure period (previously $40 per eligible child per month for 2024, adjusted annually thereafter for cost-of-living changes). (2) It increases the federal share of state and tribal administrative costs to 100% for FY2026, decreasing annually to 90% for FY2027, 80% for FY2028, 70% for FY2029, 60% for FY2030, and 50% for FY2031 and thereafter (from a flat 50%). (3) It adds definitions for "free rate" and "school closure period." (4) It establishes a grant program for states to develop or upgrade data systems necessary for program implementation, funded by a $50 million mandatory transfer from the Treasury on October 1, 2025, to remain available until expended.