HB 1627 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation to the department of public instruction to provide school meals at no cost to eligible students; and to provide an effective date.

HB 1627 proposed appropriating $7 million to fund free school meals for eligible students during the 2026-27 school year. It would have provided meals at no cost to students in public or nonpublic schools whose household income is below 300% of the federal poverty level. The bill aimed to cover meal expenses through grants to school districts, with funding effective July 1, 2026. The legislation failed to pass in January 2026, receiving 45 votes in favor and 48 against. This was a funding measure, not a procedural resolution, and would have directly affected low-income students and school districts.
Bill status failed 2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
House Failed
Jan 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Last action Jan 22, 2026
Floor votes · House Jan 22, 2026

How they voted

4346
Failed
Total votes 89
Jan 22, 2026
D Democratic11
7 Yea 4 Nay
63% Yea
R Republican78
36 Yea 42 Nay
53% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Jan 22, 2026
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (43-46)
house
Jan 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported back without recommendation 12 10 1
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 01:30
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Joint Appropriations Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ty Dressler
Ty Dressler
RRepublican
ND
36