ND HB1553

All public and nonpublic schools must offer breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost, replacing existing rules about meal debt policies and anti-stigmatization measures.

Schools must adopt policies to encourage parents to apply for free or reduced meals through the federal National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act of 1966.

$140 million appropriated from the Department of Public Instruction's operating fund for grants to school districts to cover free meal costs for the 2025-2027 biennium.

Amends the legacy earnings fund distribution to dedicate $140 million to the Department of Public Instruction's operating fund specifically for school meals, prioritized after debt service, tax relief, and highway distributions.

Superintendent of Public Instruction required to develop guidelines and reporting requirements for the school meal grants program.