House chambers (KFGO file photo)
By: Michael Achterling
BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – A bill that would provide free school meals to North Dakota students narrowly received support from a legislative committee late Wednesday, advancing to the House with a do-pass recommendation.
House Bill 1624, sponsored by Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, mirrors a constitutional ballot measure that would require the state to cover the cost of lunch and breakfast for all K-12 students.
The Together for Free School Meals coalition is gathering signatures for the measure with hopes to have voters decide the issue during the November election.
House members of the committee voted 17-5 and Senate members voted 8-7 in support of Nathe’s bill. His proposal attempts to put the meal program in state statute, rather than the state constitution, which would make it easier for lawmakers to amend if the cost becomes unsustainable.
But several lawmakers expressed concerns Wednesday that even in statute, a meal program would be difficult for lawmakers to cut in the future if the state could not afford it. Some expressed concerns about potential drops in state oil tax revenue. The bill is projected to cost $65 million for the 2026-27 school year.
Another bill concerning school meals, House Bill 1627, sponsored by Rep. Ty Dressler, R-Richardton, would increase the state’s free and reduced school lunch program to include families earning up to 300% the federal poverty limit, which is about $96,000 for a family of four.
Lawmakers were not able to reach consensus on Dressler’s bill and advanced the measure to the House without a recommendation. The House is scheduled to convene at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
Rep. Jon Nelson, R-Rugby, was among those who favored Nathe’s bill.
“We can bet yes or no whether it (the ballot measure) will pass or not, but we’re playing Russian roulette with that decision, if we allow the constitutional measure to go forward,” Nelson said. “And I would hope we would allow future legislatures to change it, if they have to.”
House Minority Leader Rep. Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, said providing school meals helps families who are struggling with affordability right now.
“I think there can be some joy at the prospect of an opportunity to send $65 million back to the taxpayers,” Ista said.
Sen. Jonathan Sickler, R-Grand Forks, said his local school district is cutting back electives and raising extra curricular fees due to budgetary issues.
“It’s an issue of priorities,” Sickler said. “And the feedback I’m getting from people in my district is the priorities are different than passing free lunch and free breakfast at this point.”
Rep. David Monson, R-Osnabrock, voted against the measure and called Nathe’s bill “pure socialism.”
“I really hate this bill,” Monson said. “How does every democracy or republic end? People start voting free money for themselves.”
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