This bill amends sections 15.1-07-38 and 21-10-13 of the North Dakota Century Code to ensure that all students in public and nonpublic schools receive school meals at no cost. The bill removes previous provisions that allowed schools to deny meals based on unpaid balances and prohibits any form of stigmatization for students receiving free or reduced-price meals. It mandates that schools adopt policies to encourage parents to apply for free or reduced meals, particularly when students have unpaid meal debts.

Additionally, the bill establishes a legacy earnings fund, which will receive a portion of the legacy fund earnings transferred to the general fund. Specifically, it allocates $140 million from this fund to the Department of Public Instruction's operating fund to support the provision of free meals for all students during the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. The superintendent of public instruction is tasked with developing guidelines and reporting requirements for the distribution of these grants to school districts.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 15.1-07-38, 21-10-13