FRESH Act

This Act may be cited as the “Funding Refrigeration Equipment for Student Health Act of 2026” or the “FRESH Act”.

(a) In general.— The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“30. Milk storage equipment grant program.—

(a) Program established.— The Secretary shall carry out a program to make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to acquire and install cold storage equipment for storing milk or milk dispensers for use in elementary schools and secondary schools.

(b) Application.— To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(c) Federal share.— The Federal share of a project carried out using a grant awarded under this section shall not be greater than 75 percent.

(d) Authorization of appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

(e) Definitions.— In this section:

(1) Eligible entity.— The term eligible entity means—

(A) a local educational agency or a school food authority administering or operating a school meal program;

(B) a tribal organization; or

(C) a consortium that includes a local educational agency or school food authority described in subparagraph (A), a tribal organization, or both.

(2) ESEA terms.— The terms elementary school, local educational agency, and secondary school have the meaning given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

(3) Milk dispenser.— The term milk dispenser means a machine that stores and chills milk in bulk at a consistent temperature and allows a user to dispense the milk directly into a cup or other container.

(4) School food authority.— The term school food authority has the meaning given the term in section 210.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).

(5) Tribal organization.— The term tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).”.

(b) Conforming amendment.— Section 3 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1752) is amended by striking “sections 13 and 17” and inserting “sections 13, 17, and 30”.