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ND Legislature Receives School Meals Cost Estimate

By Ryan Cunningham Jun 15, 2026 | 6:19 AM

(North Dakota Monitor) – BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota lawmakers this week adopted an official cost estimate for a free school meals ballot measure that voters will consider in November.

The Department of Public Instruction estimates the cost to implement the free school meals ballot measure would range between $124.3 million to $134.3 million every two years.
The cost range for providing free breakfast and lunch to public K-12 students is slightly lower than estimates presented to lawmakers in December. Officials revised the estimate after talking with nine other states that established similar programs, Lynelle Johnson, director of child nutrition and food distribution for the Department of Public Instruction, told lawmakers.

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