A bill to expand free and reduced school meals failed in the South Dakota legislature on Thursday.
The bill would require the state's department of education to reimburse each school district for service fees for reduced-price meals.
Representative Kaydn Wittman has advocated for expanding free and reduced school meals for the past four years.
During the session Thursday, Senator Brandon Wipf said he supports the bill.
He added that the state invests millions of dollars in education in the state; making sure that kids aren’t worried about lunch is the best way of protecting that investment.
Grant Judson, analyst of the Bureau of Finance and Management, said that the change would shift the responsibility from federal to state.
“The truth is the federal government struggles with fiscal responsibility. The solution is to hold them accountable to their programs, not subsidize their inability to pay,” Judson said.
A motion to table the bill passed on a 5 to 4 vote.
