HB 1214 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to create and enact section 15.1-27-31.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to transportation weighted student unit equivalents; to amend and reenact sections 15.1-31-05 and 15.1-27-31.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to open enrollment transportation; to repeal sections 15.1-27-26.1, 15.1-27-27.1, 15.1-27-28.1, 15.1-27-30.1, and 15.1-27-31.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to payments for school district transportation of students, special education students, and career and technical education students, the distribution of transportation payments in the event of school district closure, and state transportation payments to school districts; and to provide an effective date.

Summary

Relating to transportation weighted student unit equivalents; to amend and reenact sections 15.1‑31‑05 and 15.1‑27‑31.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to open enrollment transportation; to repeal sections 15.1‑27‑26.1, 15.1‑27‑27.1, 15.1‑27‑28.1, 15.1‑27‑30.1, and 15.1‑27‑31.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to payments for school district transportation of students, special education students, and career and technical education students, the distribution of transportation payments in the event of school district closure, and state transportation payments to school districts; and to provide an effective date.

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 10, 2025 Signed May 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

FIRST ENGROSSMENT → Enrollment · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates how North Dakota calculates and funds transportation costs for school districts. The most significant change is adjusting the calculation multiplier from 0.1 to 0.091, which reduces the weighted student unit equivalent used to determine state funding. The bill also adds a provision ensuring that if a school district's eligible bus miles and runs stay the same or increase from the prior year, their transportation payment cannot decrease below the previous year's amount.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on school district transportation funding, but it adds a new subsection (9) allowing the superintendent of public instruction to adopt rules about information reporting and deadlines, and includes a new funding protection clause for districts with stable or increased transportation needs.

FISCAL

The calculation multiplier for converting transportation average daily membership equivalents to weighted student unit equivalents was changed from 0.1 to 0.091, which will reduce the state funding amount school districts receive for transportation services.

A new provision ensures that school districts whose eligible bus miles and runs remain the same or increase from the prior year cannot receive less transportation funding than they received in the preceding year.

REQUIREMENT

Added authority for the superintendent of public instruction to adopt rules regarding information reported by school districts and reporting deadlines.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill's effective date language and formatting to reflect the 2025 legislative session, replacing the previous 'FIRST ENGROSSED' designation.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 11, 2025 · House Apr 29, 2025

How they voted

45–1

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 47

Apr 11, 2025

D Democratic5

5 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican42

40 Yea 1 Nay 1

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 11, 2025

Introduced

Filed with Secretary Of State 05/06

legislature

May 17, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by Governor 05/05

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 47 nays 0

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 86 nays 5

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference committee report adopted

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar

lower

Apr 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee appointed Schaible Conley Meyer

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference committee appointed Richter Hanson Schreiber-Beck

lower

Apr 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 45 nays 1

upper

Apr 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 15 1 0

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Appropriations

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back, do pass 6 0 0

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee Hearing 11:00

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Education Committee

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 93 nays 0

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 23 0 0

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 09:00

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Appropriations

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment adopted

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 09:00

lower

Jan 10, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Education Committee

lower

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors