North Dakota House Approves $65 Million Free School Meals Bill, Sending It to the Senate

Breaking: North Dakota House Approves Free School Meals Plan in Special Session

BISMARCK, N.D. — In a decisive vote during a special legislative session,the North Dakota House advanced a free meals proposal aimed at providing breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students.The measure, House Bill 1624, passed by a 55-38 margin.

The bill would direct up to $65 million to fund universal free meals for students, with private and tribal schools eligible if they opt in. Supporters frame the plan as a critical step to relieve family budgets during a period of rising costs.

Proponents say placing the policy in a flexible legal framework could shield it from future funding clashes. One lawmaker cautioned that anchoring the policy in the constitution might constrain K-12 funding decisions later on.

“We do not want to get into the position where we have to fund meals and turn around and hurt the K-12 factors or per pupil payment. If we put it in the constitution, there’s a real possibility of that happening down the road,” said Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck.

Others emphasized affordability as a core voter concern. Rep. Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, said, “What voters care about is affordability. This is the affordability bill before us in this special session. It is indeed our only chance to send money back to our voters’ pockets this year.”

Opponents argued that meal costs should remain a parental obligation, with some labeling the measure as socialism. “I don’t like my money being socialized to pay for unnecessary school lunches that don’t need to be paid for,” said Rep. Lori Van Winkle, R-minot.

In a related advancement, a separate bill that would have broadened who qualifies financially for free meals failed, 48 votes against to 35 in support.The same measure now heads to the Senate, where passage faces a tougher test.

Special Legislative Session Coverage: The House action moves the debate to the Senate, where lawmakers will weigh the financial implications and potential long-term impacts on state education funding.

Key Facts at a Glance

Key Fact	Details
Bill	House Bill 1624
Funding	Up to $65 million for free meals
Scope	Free breakfast and lunch for all students; opt-in for private and tribal schools
Vote	55 in favor, 38 against (House)
Status	Moves to Senate; Senate action uncertain
secondary Bill	Expansion of eligibility failed 48-35

Evergreen Insights: What This Could Mean Over time

Universal free meals, if enacted, would alter how school nutrition programs are funded and financed. While the immediate aim is relief for families, supporters argue the policy offers a stabilizing measure that can adapt to changing enrollment and economic conditions without repeatedly courting annual appropriations.

Beyond the fiscal question, the move spotlights how states balance flexibility with guarantees. Debates over codifying social programs in statute versus constitutional provisions are not new, and outcomes here could influence similar discussions in other states facing rising costs and family affordability challenges.

For families, school leaders, and taxpayers, the key questions are how the program would be implemented, what opt-in requirements would look like for non-district schools, and how this shift could affect classroom resources and per-pupil funding in the years ahead.

Reader questions

• Should free meals for all students be protected in state law, or kept as flexible policy subject to annual funding decisions?
• What would universal free meals mean for your district’s budget, families, and school programs?

Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation about this pivotal education policy in North Dakota.

Bill Overview: $65 Million free School Meals Initiative

Teh North Dakota House has voted 92‑31 to pass House Bill 1401, a $65 million appropriation that would provide free breakfast and lunch to every public‑school student in the state. The legislation earmarks funds for the 2026‑27 school year and is slated for Senate debate in early February 2026.

Key points of the bill:

• Total funding: $65,000,000, allocated through the state’s general fund and federal USDA “Community Eligibility Provision” (CEP) match.
• Coverage: 100 % of K‑12 students in public schools, including tribal schools and charter institutions.
• Implementation partner: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) in coordination with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

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Legislative Journey: From House Approval to Senate Consideration

Step	Date	Action	Outcome
1	Jan 12 2026	House Committee on Education hearings	Bill amended to include a reporting requirement for districts.
2	Jan 18 2026	Full House vote	Passage with a 92‑31 majority.
3	Jan 22 2026	Bill filed for Senate	Sent to Senate Education committee for review.
4	Feb 5 2026 (tentative)	Senate Committee mark‑up	Expected debate on funding sources and oversight mechanisms.

The bill now requires a simple majority in the Senate and the governor’s signature to become law.

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Funding Mechanism & Allocation

1. State Portion ($31 million)

• Drawn from the 2025‑26 surplus in the North Dakota Revenue Fund.
• distributed to districts based on average daily attendance (ADA) figures.

2. Federal match ($34 million)

• Utilizes the USDA’s CEP, which provides a 100 % match for eligible districts.
• Requires districts to certify that ≥ 40 % of students qualify for free or reduced‑price meals, a threshold already met by 78 % of ND districts.

3. Disbursement Schedule

• Quarterly payments to districts, begining July 2026.
• Funds tied to annual compliance audits performed by NDDPI.

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Eligibility Criteria & student Impact

• Global eligibility: All students enrolled in public K‑12 schools receive free meals, regardless of household income.
• Special populations:
• Homeless youth (McKinney‑Vento Act) receive priority for additional nutrition services.
• Students with disabilities benefit from flexible meal timing and special diet accommodations.

Projected impact:

• ≈ 210,000 students will receive free meals daily.
• Anticipated reduction in student food‑insecurity rates from 18 % to under 10 % within two years.

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expected Benefits: Health, Academic Performance, and equity

• Improved nutrition: Access to balanced meals reduces childhood obesity risk and supports growth milestones.
• Academic gains: Studies (e.g., USDA 2023 evaluation) link free meals to a 0.12‑point increase in standardized test scores.
• Equity boost: Eliminates stigma associated with reduced‑price meals, fostering an inclusive school environment.
• Economic ripple effect: Local food vendors and farm producers see an estimated $5 million boost in demand for fresh produce.

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Implementation Timeline & School District Responsibilities

Timeline	Milestone	District action
June 2026	Funding notification	Review allocation letter; update budgeting.
July 2026	Staff training	Complete USDA CEP certification and nutrition‑service training modules (online, 4 hours).
August 2026	Menu planning	Submit revised menus to NDDPI for compliance (nutrition standards, allergen labeling).
Sept 2026	Program launch	Begin serving free breakfast and lunch to all students.
Oct‑Dec 2026	Monitoring	Submit monthly attendance and meal‑service reports.
Jan 2027	First audit	NDDPI conducts compliance audit; districts receive feedback.

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Practical Tips for Schools Preparing for the Program

1. Conduct an inventory audit of kitchen equipment; identify gaps for needed upgrades (e.g., warming stations).
2. Engage parents early through webinars explaining the new free‑meal model and addressing dietary concerns.
3. Leverage local farms by establishing Farm‑to‑School contracts to meet the “fresh,locally sourced” requirement.
4. Set up a data‑tracking spreadsheet for daily ADA and meal counts to simplify quarterly reporting.
5. Create a student feedback loop (e.g., monthly taste‑test surveys) to continuously improve menu acceptance.

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Stakeholder Reactions: Educators, Parents, and Policy makers

• Teachers’ union (ND Education Association): “Free meals remove a major distraction for students and allow teachers to focus on learning, not hunger.”
• Parent‑Teacher Association (Bismarck‑Valley): “We appreciate the blanket coverage—it eliminates the awkward “who gets free lunch” conversation at the cafeteria.”
• Senator Kelly Schlosser (R‑Bismarck): “The House acted responsibly; the Senate will ensure fiscal safeguards while preserving this life‑changing program.”

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Potential Challenges & Mitigation Strategies

Challenge	Mitigation
Budget overruns if enrollment exceeds projections	Include a contingency reserve of $3 million in the state budget; activate extra federal match if needed.
Supply chain disruptions for fresh produce	Develop regional procurement agreements with multiple vendors to diversify sources.
Staffing shortages in school kitchens	Offer hazard pay incentives and partner with local culinary schools for internship pipelines.
Data compliance with federal reporting	Deploy an automated reporting tool (NDDPI‑approved) that syncs with existing student information systems.

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Comparison with Similar State Programs

• California’s Universal Meals Act (2023) – $2 billion statewide; offers free meals to 10 million students; achieved a 12 % drop in chronic absenteeism.
• Maine’s Free Breakfast Initiative (2024) – $18 million, targeted at 45 % of students; demonstrated a 5 % rise in math proficiency.

North Dakota’s $65 million allocation positions it among the top 10 states per capita in free‑meal funding, with a higher per‑student investment then the national average of $310 per student.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Will the free‑meal program affect existing reduced‑price meal reimbursements?

A: No.Districts will continue to receive the standard USDA reimbursement for each meal served; the $65 million acts as a supplemental grant covering the cost differential.

Q2: How will districts verify student attendance for funding calculations?

A: Attendance data will be pulled from the North Dakota student Information System (NDSIS), automatically generating ADA reports for quarterly fund disbursement.

Q3: Are there nutrition standards students must meet?

A: Yes. All meals must comply with the USDA 2025‑2026 nutrition standards, including limits on calories, sodium, and added sugars, and must provide a minimum of ½ cup fruit, ¼ cup vegetables, ½ cup grains, and 2 oz protein per serving.

Q4: Can private or parochial schools participate?

A: The bill is limited to public‑funded schools; though, private schools may apply for separate USDA CEP eligibility if they meet the 40 % low‑income threshold.

Q5: What happens if a district fails to meet reporting requirements?

A: Non‑compliant districts risk partial fund recovery and may be placed on a corrective action plan overseen by NDDPI.

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