Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateNorth DakotaSecond Reading
HB 1627: 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.
Ty Dressler
HB 1627 status: Second Reading — Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 45 nays 48 (updated Jan 22, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
65OUT OF 100
Score:65/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 60/100
Constitutionality90%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion80%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill would have appropriated funds to the Department of Public Instruction specifically for the provision of free school meals to eligible students.
Who is affected
North Dakota students designated as eligible and school districts managing meal programs.
Requirements and enforcement
The bill mandated the distribution of state funds to facilitate meal delivery.
Costs and funding
Not explicitly stated in the provided abstract, but requires state general fund appropriation.
When it takes effect
The act was intended to take effect based on a specified effective date in the bill text.
Potential benefits
Potential reduction in child hunger and improved student outcomes.
Risks and tradeoffs
Budgetary requirements and potential administrative burdens of eligibility verification.
What is still unknown
Exact income or criteria for eligibility and the specific budget impact on school districts.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Positive outlook
60%
Benefits
- Increased food access for students
- Reduced household food insecurity
- Potential for better student focus
Risks
- Fiscal strain on state general fund
- Administrative costs for implementation
- Requirement for student eligibility verification
Society
Positive outlook
70%
Benefits
- Mitigates student hunger during school hours
- Reduces social stigma surrounding free lunch eligibility
- Enhances overall student well-being
Risks
- Limits by 'eligible' criteria may exclude vulnerable students
- Administrative hurdles for families proving eligibility
- Potential for gaps in service delivery
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Mixed / Neutral
55%
Benefits
- Legislative oversight of meal funding allocation
- Direct public resource deployment for student needs
- Transparent funding mandate via appropriation
Risks
- Dependent on annual legislative budget cycles
- Limited specific oversight mechanisms mentioned
- Potential for politicization of school meal funding
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
75%
Benefits
- Improved daily nutritional intake for students
- Reduced risk of malnutrition-related developmental issues
- Support for healthy physical growth
Risks
- Reliance on school-provided menu nutritional standards
- Potential for over-reliance on processed food items
- Limited control over individual student dietary health
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Eligibility criteria are unspecified, which could lead to implementation gaps.
Analysis scope
Abstract lacks detail on specific appropriation amounts.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesCurrent
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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