BISMARCK – Petitions with signatures for a constitutional initiative requiring funding of school lunches were submitted by the sponsoring committee to the Office of the Secretary of State for review and approval for placement on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

The sponsoring committee, Together for School Meals, delivered petition packets with about 57,000 signatures, according to Secretary of State Michael Howe. Measures require 31,164 valid signatures to be placed on the ballot.

“This is what it looks like when people show up for something they believe in,” said Amy Jacobson, board leader with Together for School Meals, which led the petition drive. “We saw an outpouring of support in every corner of the state with people asking to sign, volunteers stepping up and organizations leaning in. Collecting this number of signatures so quickly speaks to how much North Dakotans want to see this move forward.”

The committee reported it collected 57,229 Signatures in just over 100 days.

Under the proposed measure, every enrolled K-12 student in North Dakota would have access to one breakfast and one lunch every school day, at no cost to students, their parents or guardians. While the measure doesn’t mandate where the funding must come from, it ensures lawmakers will use the state’s Legacy Fund earnings if other resources aren’t sufficient.

At a news conference, coalition leaders emphasized the impact of universal school meals on students and families.

“Providing school meals at no cost is one of the most direct ways we can invest in our kids,” said Robin Nelson, chair of Together for School Meals. “This measure resonates across political and geographic lines because it’s about kids, families and fairness, not politics. It’s a commonsense policy that supports students and strengthens our communities.”

“For working families, this is real money back in their pockets,” said Ashley Gaschk of ND AFL-CIO. “At a time when costs continue to rise, saving about $1,000 per student each year makes a meaningful difference. This is a practical policy that supports workers, families and local communities.”

“Access to nutritious meals is essential for academic success,” said Michelle Wagner, North Dakota School Nutrition Association and Together for School Meals board member. “Students who receive regular, balanced meals have better concentration, improved memory and higher test scores, setting them up for success. Proper nutrition is a critical part of closing achievement gaps and ensuring every student has an equal opportunity to learn and thrive.”

More than 60 organizations have signed on in support of the effort, including the North Dakota Farmers Union, North Dakota United, American Heart Association (ND) and Creating a Hunger Free North Dakota.

The Secretary of State has 35 days, or until Thursday, May 14, to decide the sufficiency of the number of signatures to determine whether the measure will be placed on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.