AN ACT to amend and reenact section 15.1-06-21 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to transgender student accommodations and restroom use in public schools; to provide a penalty; and to declare an emergency.
HB 1144 amends North Dakota law to require public school students to use restrooms and facilities corresponding to their sex assigned at birth, directly affecting transgender students in public schools. The bill mandates schools to enforce this policy, with penalties for noncompliance including potential loss of state funding. It declares an emergency to expedite the law's implementation. The legislation replaces existing accommodations for transgender students with a policy based on biological sex. This change alters school restroom access policies for transgender youth without providing alternative accommodations.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 7, 2025
Signed May 2, 2025
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What changed between versions
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
→
Enrollment
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends North Dakota law regarding transgender student accommodations in public schools. The most significant change is the addition of a new enforcement mechanism allowing parents to complain to the Attorney General if a school district violates the law, whereas previously parents could only complain directly to the school district. The bill also clarifies that multi-stall gender-neutral restrooms are prohibited, with an exemption for restrooms existing before July 1, 2025.
Scope change
The bill maintains the same scope of applying to public school districts and schools but adds a new enforcement pathway through the Attorney General and clarifies restroom designation requirements.
ENFORCEMENT
Added a new enforcement mechanism allowing parents to submit complaints directly to the Attorney General if a school district appears to be violating the transgender student accommodation law.
REQUIREMENT
Clarified that multi-stall gender-neutral restrooms and shower rooms are prohibited, with an exemption for restrooms in existence before July 1, 2025.
TIMELINE
Added a specific date (July 1, 2025) as the cutoff for existing restrooms that may be exempt from the prohibition on multi-stall gender-neutral facilities.
TECHNICAL
Removed the previous provision that exempted schools from toilet-to-student ratio requirements if modifying restroom designations caused non-compliance with state plumbing board standards.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 10, 2025 · House Apr 28, 2025
How they voted
40–7
Passed
Total votes 47
Apr 10, 2025
D
Democratic5
100% Nay
R
Republican42
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
27
Key actions
16
Committee
9
Jun 11, 2025
Introduced
Filed with Secretary Of State 05/02
legislature
May 2, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor 05/01
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 40 nays 7
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 75 nays 14, Emergency clause carried
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference committee report adopted
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee appointed Lemm Gerhardt Boschee
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference committee appointed Rohr Frelich Fegley
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 40 nays 7
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 5 1 0
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Education Committee
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 73 nays 18
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 8 3 2
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 03:15
lower
Jan 7, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, (emergency), referred Human Services Committee
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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