Two bipartisan bills in the North Dakota Legislature are focusing on universal free school meals, with a hearing set for Monday. The bills propose using state funds to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students, regardless of family income, at a cost of $140 million over two years. While both bills offer similar outcomes, they differ in funding sources, with one tapping into the state’s general fund and the other using the Legacy Fund funded through taxes on oil and gas extractions.
Advocates believe offering free meals would help students learn better and ease family budgets, with over 15 million lunches and 5 million breakfasts served in North Dakota schools in 2023-24. The Together for School Meals coalition supports the bills, emphasizing the link between healthy meals and improved student outcomes. The bills aim to capture as much federal funding as possible and ensure the costs don’t solely fall on the state. A recent poll shows 82% public support for free school meals, indicating a strong backing for the initiative.
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