Colorado

Proposition LL asks if the state should be allowed to keep and spend the revenue collected from Proposition FF. Prop FF established the Healthy School Meals for All Program and has accrued $12.4 million in revenue since its original voter approval in 2022. The Healthy School Meals for All Program is funded through state income taxes and supports free school meals for all students, regardless of family income. Due to the Tax Payers Bill of Rights, the state of Colorado must ask for approval in order to keep and spend tax revenue that has already been collected. If voters do not approve LL, households that paid the state income tax will have the tax revenue reimbursed to them. With the additional funds from LL, the Healthy School Meals for All Program would be able to further support the purchasing and use of Colorado grown products, increase wages for cafeteria employees, and offer training and technical assistance to schools.
Food is necessary for growing and learning brains. For any number of reasons, many children do not have access to quality nutrition. Free and nutritious meals can help support students from all economic and social backgrounds in becoming empowered learners and leaders.

Proposition MM asks if the state income tax should be increased. The tax increase would go towards free school meals to all public school students and food assistance and education to low-income families through the Healthy School Meals for All and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP). In tandem with Proposition LL, MM will increase the state’s funding capacity for food and nutrition programming by building the funding reservoir for such programming. Ultimately, programs like this support countless children and families and do a great deal to curb hunger in Colorado. All children need and deserve access to quality nutrition. Proposition MM helps provide government support for pathways to success among school age children of all backgrounds and identities.