HB 1200 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to amend and reenact section 15.1-21-02.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the waiver and substitution of one unit required for high school graduation under emergent circumstances.

HB 1200 amends North Dakota's high school graduation requirements to require one unit of computer science or cybersecurity (subdivision h) for all students, effective after July 31, 2025. It allows schools to grant credit for up to one unit of coursework under "emergent circumstances" (e.g., natural disasters disrupting normal education) by substituting alternative courses like dual-credit or electives. This applies to students in North Dakota public and nonpublic high schools who demonstrate such emergencies. The bill also updates existing GED credit provisions but focuses primarily on creating flexibility for emergency disruptions to graduation requirements.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Jan 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 10, 2025 Signed Mar 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

FIRST ENGROSSMENT → Enrollment · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends North Dakota's high school graduation requirements to add a mandatory computer science or cybersecurity unit effective after July 31, 2025, while maintaining current requirements through that date. The change ensures students gain essential digital skills by graduation, with a waiver available for those who have completed an approved integration plan.

Scope change

The bill extends the scope of graduation requirements by adding a new mandatory computer science or cybersecurity unit for students graduating after July 31, 2025, while preserving existing requirements for students graduating before that date.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory one-unit requirement for computer science or cybersecurity for high school graduates after July 31, 2025, which can be satisfied through math, science, or separate coursework.

Created a waiver provision allowing students to be exempt from the computer science requirement if they have completed a school board-approved computer science and cybersecurity integration plan.

Updated the social studies requirement for post-July 31, 2025 graduates to explicitly include Native American tribal history in United States history coursework.

TIMELINE

Established a two-tier effective date structure: current requirements remain in effect through July 31, 2025, with new computer science requirements applying to students graduating after that date.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2025 · House Jan 24, 2025

How they voted

46–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 47

Mar 19, 2025

D Democratic5

5 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican42

41 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 31, 2025

Introduced

Filed with Secretary Of State 03/27

legislature

Mar 28, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by Governor 03/26

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 0

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 4 0 2

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee Hearing 11:30

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Education Committee

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 88 nays 0

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 14 0 0

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 10:00

lower

Jan 10, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Education Committee

lower

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors