WASHINGTON — Schools would have more flexibility to serve refined grains and salty foods to the nation’s school children under legislation a Senate panel is considering.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is to vote today on the bipartisan bill, which is designed to help schools that have complained that the Obama administration’s healthier school meal rules are too restrictive. Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, the GOP chairman of the agriculture panel, and Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the committee’s top Democrat, introduced the bill Monday after reaching an agreement to ease requirements for whole grains and delay an upcoming deadline to cut sodium levels.

The compromise signals a truce between first lady Michelle Obama and congressional Republicans who have been at odds over the rules for more than two years. The first lady has highlighted the standards as part of her campaign against childhood obesity.

The White House has yet to weigh in on the agreement, but Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a statement Tuesday supporting the legislation.

The agreement is also backed by the School Nutrition Association, which represents school nutrition directors and companies that sell food to schools. The rules set fat, calorie, sugar and sodium limits on foods in the lunch line and beyond. They also require more whole grains, fruits and vegetables.