Jan. 30 – HB1199, Extends until June 30, 2025, a $68.3 million Bank of North Dakota line of credit to the Department of Career and Technical Education for construction of career academies. Appropriates $2 million for interest payments on the line of credit. Senate Appropriations, 9 a.m. HB1495, Includes a tax increment finance district in the definition of “property tax incentive” when a school board negotiates a tax break for a project. House Finance and Taxation, 9 a.m. HB1460, Creates a paid family leave medical fund, sets a benefit of up to $1,000 a week, and outlines under what circumstances an employee may be granted medical leave. House Industry, Business and Labor, 9 a.m., 1st Bill
HB1344, Allows the Legislature’s Administrative Rules Committee to block an administrative rule if it is unneeded or unreasonable. Says the attorney general may not approve an administrative rule if it is contrary to legislative intent. House Judiciary, 9 a.m. SB2361, Allows a homeowner to freeze the property tax value of his or her primary residence. Senate Finance and Taxation, 9:45 a.m. HB1362, Recognizes a parent’s interest in the upbringing of their child. The integrity of the family unit and the right of a parent to conceive, raise, manage, train, educate, and reasonably discipline the parent’s child should be constitutionally protected. House Human Services, 10 a.m. SB2270, Requires the superintendent of public instruction to establish a student teacher experience program to provide incentives for licensed teachers to stay in North Dakota. Grants would include $200 for every week of student teaching and $400 a week for every student teaching in a rural school district. Senate Education, 10 a.m. HB1403, Bars government entities from interfering with “the fundamental right of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health” of the parent’s child, unless doing so furthers a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means available. Parents may assert violation of fundamental rights as a defense in a court proceeding. House Human Services, 10:30 a.m. SB2380, Affects administrative cost-sharing for cooperating school districts and special education units. Senate Education, 10:30 a.m. SB2033, Establishes a college loan forgiveness program for teachers, administered by the state superintendent of public instruction. Loan forgiveness amounts range from $10,000 to $20,000 over four years. Appropriates $3 million to the Department of Public Instruction for the program. Senate Appropriations, 11 a.m.
SB2282, Civil claims for sexual assault, sexual abuse, or gross sexual imposition for which the time limit on claims have run out are revived for two years. Lawsuits must be filed by Aug. 1, 2025. Senate Judiciary, 11 a.m. SB2356, A school district may not bar a student’s parent or guardian from attending a school-sponsored student activity in which the student is participating. A private entity may not prohibit a minor child’s parent or guardian from attending an activity in which the minor child is taking part. Senate Education, 11 a.m. SB2258, Allows retired teachers to return to teaching without losing retirement benefits if certain conditions are met. Committee Work, Senate Education, 2 p.m. HB1125, Says the state treasurer, as well as the superintendent of public instruction, must be notified if a school district misses a debt payment or indicates the debt payment may be short. Senate Appropriations, 2:30 p.m., 1st Bill
SB2128, Requires human service centers to become “certified community behavioral health clinics” capable of providing “continuous community-based behavioral health and related physical health care services for children and adults.” Senate Appropriations, 2:30 p.m. HB1491, Appropriates $89.5 million to the Department of Public Instruction to provide lunches to all students in public schools without cost to the students. House Education, 3 p.m., 1st Bill HB1494, Requires school districts to adopt policies in handling student debts for unpaid school meals. House Education, 3 p.m., 2nd Bill SB2247, Students and employees of State Board of Higher Education institutions may not be penalized for refusing to support “divisive concepts,” such as stereotyping or scapegoating on the basis of race or sex. Committee Work, Senate Education, 3 p.m.
Jan. 31 – SB2351, Requires public schools to file monthly reports on incidents of classroom clearing and hallway clearing to the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Instruction. Senate Education, 9 a.m. HB1397, Appropriates $55 million to renovate and construct an addition to the Liberty Memorial Building to serve as a new building for the North Dakota Supreme Court. Establishes an oversight committee for the project. House Judiciary, 9 a.m. HB1300, Allows a school board to levy a property tax of up to 2 mills without voter approval for upkeep of older buildings. House Education, 9 a.m. HB1530, Expands Medicaid coverage to include “family adaptive behavioral treatment,” dental screening and case management, and behavioral analysis. House Human Services, 9:15 a.m. SB2354, Annual stipends of up to $2,500 per teacher for pilot programs for K-3 teachers to teach a foreign language. Programs begin in 2023-24 school year and end in 2024-25. Appropriates $25,000 to the Department of Public Instruction for stipends. Senate Education, 9:30 a.m. SB2340, Establishes school mandates for employing counselors and outlines minimum qualifications. Senate Education, 10 a.m. SB2346, Adjusts how state aid to local schools is calculated. Senate Finance and Taxation, 10 a.m. HB1461, Limits increases in property taxes. House Finance and Taxation, 10 a.m. HB1329, Lengthens from 20 to 30 years the amount of time a teacher must be licensed by the Education Standards and Practices Board to qualify for a lifetime license. House Education, 10 a.m.
SB2387, Limits the taxable value, for property tax purposes, of agricultural property and an individual’s primary residence. Limits the tax rate on a primary residence. Abolishes the property tax exemption on farm residences. Senate Finance and Taxation, 2 p.m. HB1382, Provides a payment of $500 per term for college students who are part of an apprenticeship program. House Education, 2:30 p.m., 1st Bill HB1451, Raises the maximum benefit of the North Dakota Scholarship from $6,000 to $10,000 for high school students who graduate in 2023 or later. House Education, 2:30 p.m., 2nd Bill
Feb. 1 – SB2200, Appropriates $1 million to the Department of Public Instruction for grants for North Dakota governor’s schools at the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University. Grants capped at $10,000 per student. Governor’s schools must provide programs related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, energy law, mental health, education, and health sciences. Senate Appropriations, 8 a.m. SB2369, Allows a parent to claim a property tax credit equal to the amount of property taxes paid to the local school district on a primary residence if the household has children who are in nonpublic school or being educated at home. The property tax paid to retire school district debt is not eligible for a tax credit benefit. Senate Finance and Taxation, 9 a.m. HB1349, Increases a financial adjustment for school district special education programs by $103.7 million. House Education, 9 a.m. HB1418, Adds a person representing the adult and aging population and an individual representing a brain injury advocacy organization as potential appointees to the brain injury advisory council. House Human Services, 9 a.m. HB1464, Changes how state aid to local school districts is calculated for high-cost students. House Education, 9:30 a.m. HB1492, Defines mental injury to determine possible penalties for the crime of child abuse. House Judiciary, 9:30 a.m. SB2391, Changes eligibility for renaissance zone benefits. Senate Finance and Taxation, 10 a.m. SB2257, Extends life of task force on prevention of sexual abuse of children from Sept. 30, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Senate Judiciary, 10 a.m. HB1376, Says a superintendent or administrator of a school may not deny enrollment to a student at the Center for Distance Education, and that students must be able to “open-enroll” virtually at another school district if they choose. House Education, 10:30 a.m.
SB2032, Appropriates $3 million to the Department of Public Instruction for grants to higher ed institutions to assist paraprofessionals to become qualified teachers, with no more than $20,000 for each institution for administrative and startup costs. Appropriation given for two years, starting July 1, 2023. Senate Appropriations, 11 a.m. HB1532, Appropriates $24 million to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction to establish and administer an “educational reimbursement program” for students attending nonpublic schools. For each student the nonpublic school enrolls, it may be paid between 15 and 30 percent of the per-student payment rate for public schools. House Education, 2:30 p.m. SB2284, This is the primary school funding policy bill. Changes the makeup of the Board of Public School Education so that members represent groups of legislative districts, rather than counties. Requires that two board members must be active school administrators. Lists weapons that are barred from school property; chemical irritants and Tasers are allowed. Makes “science of reading” professional development for teachers and principals optional. Changes state aid payment formula. Senate Education, 3 p.m.
Feb. 2 – HB1032, Approves up to $500 as an incentive for students to enroll in commercial driver’s license and certified nursing assistant programs. Appropriates $1 million for the grants. Committee Work, House Appropriations, 9 a.m. HB1508, Restricts fees that the state auditor may charge for auditing local governments. Bars the state auditor from charging audit fees to a college that is part of the North Dakota University System. Says all audits performed by the state auditor must be reviewed and approved by a certified public accountant. House Political Subdivisions, 9 a.m. HB1240, Requires $1 million transfers from the Legacy Fund’s earnings fund to the skilled workforce student loan repayment fund and the skilled workforce scholarship fund. Gives the Board of Higher Education authority to transfer money between the two funds. Repeals ending date of July 1, 2023, for skilled workforce student programs. Committee Work, House Appropriations, 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 3 – HB1337, Requires school districts to allocate at least 15 percent of state aid payments to school safety measures. The percentage drops to 5 percent if the school district allows people with concealed weapons permits to carry guns on school property. House Energy and Natural Resources, 9 a.m., 4th Bill
Source – Dale Wetzel Public Information Specialist North Dakota Department of Public Instruction Email: dewetzel@nd.gov
