Colorado voters have approved two ballot measures that will guarantee every public school child in the state access to free breakfast and lunch while also strengthening the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The two initiatives, Propositions MM and LL, passed with significant statewide support, marking a decisive move to address child hunger and underfunded school meal programs.
According to Wednesday morning’s vote count, Proposition MM passed with support from nearly six in ten voters, or 58.1 percent. More than two-thirds of counties across the state, including both rural and metropolitan areas, voted in favor of the measures. Proposition MM increases taxes on wealthy households earning more than $300,000 annually to fully fund the state’s Healthy School Meals for All program and cover new costs for administering SNAP. Proposition LL ensures that any excess funds from the school meals program can be used to provide additional support for SNAP.
The new tax policy will affect about 200,000 households in Colorado, roughly 6 percent of state filers. Single filers earning at least $300,000 in adjusted gross income will pay an estimated $327 more per year, while joint filers will owe around $574 more. Nonpartisan legislative staff estimate that the changes will generate approximately $95 million in additional revenue.
This revenue will guarantee free breakfasts and lunches for all public school students. It will also provide wage increases for school meal staff and encourage school districts to purchase more food from local producers. The new funding model follows the 2022 voter-approved Proposition FF, which created the Healthy School Meals for All program by increasing taxes on high earners. That earlier measure succeeded in establishing universal school meals, but inflation and higher-than-expected participation quickly depleted its funding.
Proponents of the latest ballot measures celebrated the outcome, describing it as a victory for families and students across Colorado. “Propositions LL and MM will keep kids fed in school, leading to better grades, higher graduation rates, and better outcomes for Colorado students,” said Joe Kabourek, campaign manager for the Keep Kids Fed campaign.
Colorado’s approach reflects a broader national trend as states step in to fill the gap left by the expiration of federal pandemic-era meal funding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government provided temporary funding to ensure that public school students could receive free meals. That program ended in 2022, and most states chose not to continue it. Since then, it is estimated that nearly one in eight children in the United States faces hunger.
Polling suggests that most Americans support public funding for universal school meals. A 2023 YouGov survey found that 57 percent of respondents supported free breakfasts for all students, while 30 percent believed the meals should only go to students from low-income families. Only 8 percent said no students should receive free breakfasts. The results were nearly identical when respondents were asked about lunches, with 60 percent supporting free lunch for all students and only 6 percent opposed.
Under the new Colorado measures, any remaining funds beyond those needed to sustain universal school meals will help offset rising state costs associated with SNAP administration. State officials estimate those costs will reach $50 million starting next year due to new work requirements for SNAP participants that were enacted by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress earlier this year.
Supporters of Propositions MM and LL say the measures will not only reduce child hunger but also strengthen local economies by expanding school purchasing of Colorado-grown food. They also note that pay increases for cafeteria staff will address a chronic labor shortage in one of the lowest-paid sectors of the education system.
Before the creation of the Healthy School Meals for All program, only children from families below a certain income threshold could receive free or reduced-price meals. Advocates argue that the universal approach eliminates stigma, increases participation, and ensures that every child, regardless of background, has consistent access to nutritious food.
Opponents of the ballot measures expressed concern over increased taxes and potential long-term spending commitments, but the measures’ wide support suggests that voters viewed the trade-off as justified. The average increase of several hundred dollars per year for high-income households was seen as a modest contribution compared to the public benefit of feeding all students.
As Colorado implements the new measures, districts will adjust their budgets and staffing to reflect the additional funding. School nutrition programs are expected to improve wages, strengthen local procurement networks, and maintain high participation levels.
With the passage of Propositions MM and LL, Colorado becomes one of the few states ensuring that every child attending a public school will receive free breakfast and lunch without qualification. The decision underscores growing voter recognition that access to healthy food is essential to both learning and equity.
“Propositions LL and MM will keep kids fed in school, leading to better grades, higher graduation rates, and better outcomes for Colorado students,” said Joe Kabourek, campaign manager for the Keep Kids Fed campaign.
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