The North Dakota Senate has narrowly voted against a proposal to provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students. The measure, House Bill 1624, was defeated in a 24-22 vote during a special legislative session on Friday, halting a $65 million plan for universal school meals.
The bill's failure shifts the focus to a citizen-led initiative aiming to place a similar proposal on the ballot as a constitutional amendment. The legislative debate highlighted a deep divide on the role of government in providing for children's needs, with arguments centering on family responsibility versus public health and popular demand.
Key Takeaways
- The North Dakota Senate defeated House Bill 1624 by a vote of 24-22.
- The bill would have allocated $65 million to provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students until June 2027.
- The vote occurred during a special session called primarily to address rural health funding.
- Advocates will now focus on a ballot measure to make free school meals a constitutional right, funded by the state's Legacy Fund.
A Close Vote Ends Legislative Path
The final decision came down to a narrow margin in the state Senate. House Bill 1624 had previously passed in the House with a 55-38 vote, signaling some bipartisan support. However, it failed to secure a majority in the upper chamber.
The proposed legislation would have made one breakfast and one lunch available to any public school student upon request, regardless of their family's income. This universal approach was a key point of contention among lawmakers.
The debate took place during a three-day special session initially convened by Governor Kelly Armstrong to approve nearly $400 million in federal funds for rural healthcare. Lawmakers permitted seven emergency bills to be heard, including two related to school nutrition.
A Second Meal Bill Fails
Alongside the universal meals bill, another proposal also failed to advance. House Bill 1627 was defeated in the House by a 45-48 vote. This bill sought to expand eligibility for free or reduced-price meals to families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level, which is currently about $96,000 for a family of four.
Current Eligibility in North Dakota
During the previous regular session, the North Dakota Legislature had already expanded access to school meals. They raised the income threshold for free and reduced-price lunch qualification from 125% to 225% of the federal poverty line.
Arguments on the Senate Floor
The debate preceding the vote revealed conflicting philosophies among legislators. Opponents argued that providing universal free meals oversteps the role of government and undermines parental responsibility.
"This bill would take away more responsibility of the family," said Senator David Clemens, a Republican from West Fargo. "We have families now that are providing lunches for their children. We pass this bill, now they don't have to do that."
Some lawmakers, including Representative Lori VanWinkle of Minot, characterized the measure as "socialist." Others, like Senator Janne Myrdal of Edinburg, expressed concern that the legislature was being pressured into passing the bill out of fear that a citizen-led constitutional amendment would succeed.
Conversely, supporters framed the issue as a matter of public health and responding to the will of the people. Senator Tim Mathern, a Democrat from Fargo, connected the bill to the special session's primary goal of improving health in the state.
"Let’s just say everybody is going to have food," Mathern stated during the debate. "I think that’s what this bill says."
Public Opinion and a Looming Ballot Measure
A significant factor in the legislative debate was the widespread public support for free school meals. Proponents of the bill frequently cited polling data indicating strong approval among North Dakota residents.
A 2024 poll from the North Dakota News Cooperative found that 82% of participants favored the state government providing lunches at no cost to all school children.
Representative Austen Schauer of West Fargo urged his colleagues to heed these numbers. "We can't ignore the polls," he said. "This is what the people in North Dakota are asking."
Senator Judy Lee, a West Fargo Republican, warned that if the legislature did not act, voters would likely approve the constitutional measure. She argued that passing a state law would give lawmakers more control over the program's implementation and funding, as a statute can be amended more easily than the state constitution.
Next Steps: A Citizen-Led Initiative
With the legislative option closed for now, all eyes are on the grassroots campaign by Together for School Meals. The group is actively collecting signatures to place a constitutional measure on an upcoming ballot.
If successful, this measure would amend the North Dakota Constitution to guarantee free meals for school children, with funding drawn from the state's Legacy Fund, which collects oil and gas tax revenue.
In a statement following the Senate vote, Together for School Meals spokesperson Amy Jacobson reaffirmed the group's mission. "The Legislature may have said no again today, but throughout this debate, one thing was unmistakable: the people of North Dakota made it clear they support free school meals," she said. "That public support isn’t going away, and we’re going to honor it by taking this directly to the voters."
Governor Armstrong acknowledged the political reality, calling the move to approve free meals a "purely political decision." He predicted the issue is far from over, stating, "I think when the Legislature comes back in January, we will be dealing with how we implement free school lunches."