Committee rejects proposal to add Medicaid direct-certification pilot for school meals

The Finance Division II voted against an amendment that would have created a two-year pilot allowing the state Medicaid system to directly certify eligible children for free or reduced-price school meals without a new family application.

Representative Kelly, who moved the amendment, told the committee the federal USDA pilot — Medicaid direct certification — would allow data-sharing between Medicaid and the Department of Education to automatically certify children whose income already qualifies them for free or reduced meals. She described the effort as revenue-neutral for state adequacy funding (average daily membership would be frozen during the pilot period) and said it would measure whether direct certification increased access to meals and produced analytics on effects such as attendance and academic outcomes.

Kelly said the pilot would limit direct certification to families at or below 185% of the federal poverty level for free and reduced certification and that certification via Medicaid would remain subject to the program’s 12-month re-certification rules. Supporters argued the pilot reduces stigma and administrative burden for families.

Opponents — including Representative Popovich and other members — expressed procedural and policy concerns. Popovich said he had reviewed prior multi-year testimony and did not find examples of students being denied food at school due to inability to pay; he opposed inserting a policy bill into the budget at this point in the cycle. Representative Murray described the measure as a pilot she could support in principle but emphasized the need for clear guardrails and data collection. After a hand vote, the amendment failed 3 in favor, 5 opposed.

Votes at a glance: motion to adopt Medicaid direct-certification pilot amendment — failed 3–5.