Denver, CO – November 5, 2025 – In a historic vote on Tuesday, Colorado voters approved two key propositions aimed at providing free school meals to all K-12 public students across the state. Propositions LL and MM, which passed with strong support, will fund the program by increasing taxes on high earners in Colorado.
What Happened
Proposition LL and Proposition MM were both passed by healthy margins, according to official state ballot counts. These measures represent a significant step toward addressing food insecurity in public schools while also improving the quality of meals provided to students.
- Proposition LL enables Colorado to retain existing tax revenues for the school meal program, which would otherwise be returned to taxpayers due to state constitutional limits on earmarking funds without voter approval.
- Proposition MM increases income taxes for households earning at least $300,000 annually, raising an estimated $95 million per year. This additional revenue will fund free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 students in the state, regardless of their family’s income.
Key Provisions of Proposition MM
Proposition MM does more than simply fund the program—it also sets goals for improving the quality of school meals. Key provisions include:
- Prioritizing healthy, whole foods over processed ingredients.
- Increasing local food purchasing by sourcing foods grown or raised within Colorado.
- Raising wages for cafeteria staff, ensuring fair compensation for those who prepare and serve meals.
These changes reflect a broader effort to not only provide free meals but to improve the nutritional quality of the food served to students.
Impact on High Earners
The increased taxes from Proposition MM will primarily affect approximately 6% of households in the state, those earning $300,000 or more annually. According to state estimates, each of these households will pay an average of $486 per year to fund the program.
Expanding the Healthy School Meals for All Program
This new initiative builds on the Healthy School Meals for All program, which began in the 2023-2024 school year to provide free meals to low-income students. The program was expanded the following year to include more locally sourced food, in line with Proposition MM’s focus on supporting local agriculture.
With the passage of these propositions, Colorado becomes one of the first states to guarantee free school meals for all public students, regardless of income. This move is seen as a progressive step in tackling food insecurity and supporting student well-being.
Closing
The approval of Propositions LL and MM marks a major victory for school meal advocates and highlights the state’s commitment to ensuring that all students have access to healthy and nutritious food. As the program rolls out, it is expected to provide significant benefits for students across Colorado, contributing to improved academic performance and overall well-being.
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
