North Dakota Voters Face $134 Million School Meal Bill Next Week

82% is the level of support polling suggests for a new measure in North Dakota. The state will vote on that figure next week as it considers whether to write free school meals into its constitution.

Ballot Measure 2 would mandate that public schools provide one breakfast and one lunch to every student daily. The state would cover costs not reimbursed by federal programs. Public charter schools would be included automatically, while private and tribal schools could choose to join.

The initiative aims to close a gap in the current system. The income cap for free meals is currently about $74,000 for a family of four. This threshold sits at 225% of the federal poverty limit, leaving many working families ineligible. The state estimates the program will cost between $124 million and $134 million over two years.

Supporters argue the policy helps working families and improves student outcomes. Robin Nelson, chair of the campaign group Together for School Meals, noted that prices are rising. She described the measure as a way to assist households and attract new residents. Nelson, a former Republican campaign manager, views the policy as consistent with conservative values.

The measure reached the ballot after the state legislature failed to pass similar bills in two previous sessions. In January, the House passed the bill 55-38, but the Senate rejected it 24-22. Backers then gathered 49,000 signatures to place the question before voters directly.

Opponents point to the structure of the proposal. It is framed as a constitutional amendment rather than a statute. This design means funding would come from the state’s Legacy Fund, which is derived from oil and gas revenue. Governor Kelly Armstrong has opposed the measure, arguing that constitutional mandates take precedence over other budgetary decisions regardless of commodity prices.

North Dakota passed a law in 2023 that prevents schools from withholding meals due to unpaid balances. However, advocates say some families still face debt collection or have transcripts withheld. The new measure would address these issues by making the meal provision a fundamental right under Article 8 of the state constitution.

Voters will also decide on Measure 1 next week. That proposal would raise the vote threshold for future constitutional changes from 50% to 60%. The legislature placed Measure 1 on the ballot to make it harder for similar initiatives to pass in the future. The outcome of Measure 2 will be watched closely as a test of the policy’s viability in a deep red state.