Free school meal bills draw bipartisan support, though questions about funding linger

Patrick Hart threw some other examples of legislation and spending in North Dakota into his testimony about the importance of state-funded school meals. 

He noted that there is a resolution to support the United States annexing Greenland, a bill to make legislators eligible to take the bar exam and that the state uses part of its tourism budget to pay actor Josh Duhamel, already a multi-millionaire. 

“What’s your legacy as an elected official?” Hart asked the House Education Committee on Monday.  “If I was in your shoes, I would want this as my legacy. Feeding our children seems like a pretty good use of money.” 

Hart was testifying in favor of House Bill 1475, which would provide state funding for K-12 school meals, including at private schools.

Hart, of Bismarck, was the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in the 2024 election and one of several people to testify in favor of the bipartisan bill. 

There was some written testimony opposing the bill, one of two school meal bills introduced this session.

Connie Samuelson of Minot wrote that she was concerned about the $140 million price tag and further burdening taxpayers. 

One argument in favor of paid school meals is that if the state is going to require students to be in school, it should feed them, too. 

Samuelson called that a “slippery slope.” 

“Kids attending public schools are required to eat, dress, wear shoes, have good hygiene, transportation, etc. This will open the door for too many ‘expectations’ paid for by other taxpayers.”

Hearing set Monday on bill that would provide free school meals for North Dakota students

The bill discussed Monday would pay for the meals using the state’s general fund. The other school meals bill, House Bill 1553, would tap into the state’s Legacy Fund, which is fed by oil and gas tax revenue. A hearing has yet to be scheduled on that bill, which also has bipartisan support. 

Lynelle Johnson is the director of child nutrition and food distribution programs with the state Department of Public Instruction that came up with the estimated $140 million state cost over two years.

She said by paying for school meals, North Dakota would maximize federal reimbursements in school nutrition programs. 

According to Johnson, 125,500 North Dakota students participate in the National School Lunch Program. Most schools also offer a breakfast program. In the 2023-2024 school year, North Dakota schools collected about $35 million in federal reimbursements for meal programs.

The committee took no action Monday. 

Other testimony in favor of the bill said it would help support agriculture and help recruit workers with young families into the state, as well as benefit students and academic success. 

Aimee Copas is the executive director of North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders. 

“There’s very few things that you can do for a student to improve their student outcomes than making sure they have food in their belly,” Copas said.