North Dakota, like all states, has a unique early childhood policy landscape that is shaped by economics, demographics, political history, coalitions, and other factors that create a state-specific environment for policy advocacy.
State early childhood policy progress is dependent both on the state’s environment and the numerous efforts—by the organizations listed on this page, other organizations, parents, policymakers, practitioners, and more—who work both independently and collaboratively to achieve wins for young children.
Research shows that family economic security is foundational to children’s overall wellbeing. Research also shows that widespread disparities in opportunity (especially by race) drive wide disparities in outcomes. States with policies that offer strong support to young children and their families are more likely to see 1) declining numbers of children in low-income households and 2) low racial disparity among those children.
Young Children in Low-Income Households: Declining
Approximately 28 percent (24,000) of the state’s children 0-8 live in households below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (2022). This number represents a decrease from 32 percent (29,000) in 2017.1
Racial Disparity Among Young Children Living in Low-Income Households: High
Black, Hispanic/Latino, and/or Native children aged 0-8 are significantly more likely to be living in households below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level than are Asian and non-Hispanic White children.2
State General Fund Appropriations: Growing
North Dakota’s governor completed signing the remaining bills for the state’s biennium budget on in May of 2025, while making a series of line-item vetoes. The legislative appropriation for the two-year budget for fiscal 2026-2027 calls for $20.27 billion in total spending over the course of the biennium, a 3.4 percent increase over the fiscal 2023-2025 biennium. General fund spending over the course of the biennium is $6.26 billion, a 2.6 percent increase. Total general fund tax revenue for the biennium is estimated to be $5.06 billion, a 2.6 percent increase over the revised forecast for fiscal 2023-2025. The adopted budget assumes an ending balance of $226.5 million while the Budget Stabilization Fund is forecasted to be $938.5 million at the end of the biennium.3
Largest Per Capita Revenue Sources (after federal transfers):4
Severance taxes tax the extraction of natural resources such as oil and natural gas. Severance tax revenue is extremely volatile and can quickly rise and fall with the price and production of natural resources. Charges are public payments connected with a specific government service, such as tuition paid to a state university, payments to a public hospital, or highway tolls.
State Budget Rules:4
North Dakota uses a biennial budget. North Dakota’s budget process does not include any tax and expenditure limits or limits on authorized debt and debt service.
There is no permanent state funding stream—such as lottery revenue, nicotine tax, or trust fund distributions—dedicated by statute to early childhood supports.9 (Examples of states with such funding in place can be found in the Alliance’s Revenue and Early Childhood Finance resource center.)
Political Alignment: Aligned Republican
In 2025, the state’s Senate and House were both Republican controlled. The state’s Governor was also a Republican.6
Types of Common Ballot Measures Available:7 Five
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Organizations Include:
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Multi-State Initiatives Include:8
Highlights from the state’s early childhood policy advocacy community include:9
A significant milestone achieved in the 2025 North Dakota legislative session is HB 1564, a policy win that updates the state’s application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). This bill is a significant stride towards bolstering tribal sovereignty and shielding Indigenous families from unnecessary separation. HB 1564 enhances state law by clarifying definitions and raising the standards for child removal involving Indigenous children. It enshrines “active efforts” requirements, which mandate that authorities work diligently to keep Indigenous children with their families whenever safe and appropriate. The bill further establishes clear placement preferences that prioritize relatives and tribal members and refines emergency removal protocols to ensure they are used only when necessary. Crucially, HB1564 mandates that North Dakota courts recognize and respect tribal court decisions, fostering a spirit of cooperation and trust between the state and tribal justice systems. The law also requires improved record-sharing practices with tribal authorities and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), addressing historical barriers that have hindered transparency and accountability. This legislation is a beacon of hope, addressing long-standing issues of the disproportionate removal of Indigenous children from their families. This harmful practice has contributed to generational trauma in Native communities. By aligning state child welfare practices with federal ICWA standards, HB1564 helps prevent the unnecessary disruption of Indigenous family bonds, promotes cultural preservation, and supports tribal sovereignty. It marks a significant victory for Indigenous rights, child welfare reform, and social justice in North Dakota.
Another significant policy win from the 2025 North Dakota legislative session is HB 1013, which provides a $2.84 billion biennial appropriation to the Department of Public Instruction and related agencies. This funding supports K–12 education, including the Center for Distance Education, the State Library, the School for the Deaf, and North Dakota Vision Services – School for the Blind. A notable aspect of HB1013 is the expansion of free school meal eligibility to families earning up to 225 percent of the federal poverty level, up from the previous 200% threshold. This change means that a family of four with an income of approximately $72,000 qualifies for free school lunches, a crucial support for many students from low- to moderate-income households. While the bill did not include universal free meals, it represents a significant step toward addressing food insecurity among students and promoting equitable access to education.
HB 1067 expands Medicaid services for youth, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The bill extends in-home services to children diagnosed with ASD through age 20, addressing the needs of older youth who previously had limited access to such services. Additionally, HB1067 directs that Social Security survivor benefits and court-ordered child support will be excluded from income calculations when determining Medicaid eligibility for children under 18 enrolled in 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. This change is expected to improve access to in-home and community-based services for children with significant medical or developmental needs.
HB 1143 allocates $5 million to expand the capacity of the Great Plains Food Bank. This funding supports the establishment or significant improvement of food distribution facilities, a crucial step in enhancing food security across the state. The bill aims to address hunger by improving infrastructure for food distribution, ensuring more efficient and widespread access to food assistance for communities in need. This investment reflects a commitment to combating food insecurity and supporting vulnerable populations in North Dakota.
HB 1072 formally recognizes and funds kinship guardianship arrangements. This bill ensures that children placed with relatives or family friends receive state financial support even when federal funds don’t apply. By codifying this practice into law, HB1072 not only strengthens family-based care options, but also plays a crucial role in promoting stability for children. It provides more explicit guidance for social workers and families involved in the foster care system, reinforcing the state’s dedication to keeping children in safe, familiar homes.
Our lead ally in North Dakota, Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota, works to empower communities in all 53 counties to promote health and wellness. By re-establishing trust at the local level around public health issues, they seek to continue the North Dakota traditions of self-determination, working beyond differences, and wanting the best for one another.
Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota is working to advance early childhood policies in several areas that align with the Alliance’s birth-through-eight policy framework:
Child Care
Infant and Child Health
Maternal Health
A health advocate and communications strategist explain how “deliberate listening” and unlikely alliances are mitigating some of the most harmful consequences of vaccine misinformation—and disinformation—in North Dakota. And they share five strategies other advocates can emulate.
NOTES:
1 Kids Count Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children Ages 0 to 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, January, 2024.
2 National Center for Children in Poverty, Children Ages 0 through 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, October 2024, NCCP analysis of ACS 5-Year Estimates – Public Use Microdata Sample 2018-2022.
3 National Association of State Budget Officers, Proposed and Enacted Budgets, FY 2026.
4 Urban Institute, State Fiscal Briefs, April 2025.
5 Alliance for Early Success, State Examples of Dedicated Funding Streams, 2025
6 National Conference of State Legislatures, 2025 State & Legislative Partisan Composition, January 31, 2025.
7 Ballotpedia, Ballot Measures by State, Kids Count Data Center, 2025.
8 Alliance for Early Success, Multi-State Initiatives for Early Childhood Policy Advocacy, July, 2024.
9 Alliance for Early Success, State-Wide Advocacy Highlights Survey, April-October, 2025.
