SB 2003 North Dakota Senate · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the North Dakota university system; to create and enact two new sections to chapter 15-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to presidential searches and the state commissioner of higher education; to amend and reenact subsection 2 of section 6-09-53, subdivision a of subsection 1 of section 15-10-17, subdivision c of subsection 1 of section 15-10-48, subdivisions a and c of subsection 1 of section 15-10-48.2, subdivision c of subsection 1 of section 15-10-49, subsection 1 of section 15-10-75, subsection 1 of the new section to chapter 15-10, as created by section 1 of House Bill No. 1437, as approved by the sixty-ninth legislative assembly, paragraph 3 of subdivision h of subsection 1 of section 15-18.2-02, subsection 2 of section 15-18.2-03, subsection 1 of section 15-18.2-05, section 15-54.1-04, subsection 2 of section 15-62.5-03, and section 54-44.1-11 of the North Dakota Century Code, sections 6 and 7 of chapter 126 of the 2021 Session Laws, sections 7, 8, and 9 of chapter 3 of the 2023 Session Laws, and subsection 17 of section 1 of chapter 550 of the 2021 Special Session Session Laws, relating to the powers and duties of the state board of higher education, the economic diversification research fund, matching grants for the advancement of academics, the workforce education innovation program, academic tenure policy at institutions of higher education, state aid for institutions of higher education, university system capital building funds, the scholars program, the cancellation of unexpended appropriations, transfers from the Bank of North Dakota to the skilled workforce loan repayment program fund and the skilled workforce scholarship fund, transfers from the Bank of North Dakota to the skilled workforce loan repayment program fund, the skilled workforce scholarship fund, and to the state board of higher education for dual-credit tuition scholarships, and funding for hyperbaric oxygen therapy; to repeal section 15-10-74 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the naming of the Bismarck state college polytechnic center; to authorize the state board of higher education to issue and sell bonds for capital projects; to provide for a transfer; to provide for the conveyance of real property; to provide for a legislative management higher education funding review committee; to provide for a legislative management study; to provide for a report; to provide legislative intent; to provide an exemption; and to declare an emergency.

Summary
Relating to presidential searches and the state commissioner of higher education; to amend and reenact subsection 2 of section 6‑09‑53, subdivision a of subsection 1 of section 15‑10‑17, subdivision c of subsection 1 of section 15‑10‑48, subdivisions a and c of subsection 1 of section 15‑10‑48.2, subdivision c of subsection 1 of section 15‑10‑49, subsection 1 of section 15‑10‑75, subsection 1 of the new section to chapter 15‑10, as created by section 1 of House Bill No. 1437, as approved by the sixty‑ninth legislative assembly, paragraph 3 of subdivision h of subsection 1 of section 15‑18.2‑02, subsection 2 of section 15‑18.2‑03, subsection 1 of section 15‑18.2‑05, section 15‑54.1‑04, subsection 2 of section 15‑62.5‑03, and section 54‑44.1‑11 of the North Dakota Century Code, sections 6 and 7 of chapter 126 of the 2021 Session Laws, sections 7, 8, and 9 of chapter 3 of the 2023 Session Laws, and subsection 17 of section 1 of chapter 550 of the 2021 Special Session Session Laws, relating to the powers and duties of the state board of higher education, the economic diversification research fund, matching grants for the advancement of academics, the workforce education innovation program, academic tenure policy at institutions of higher education, state aid for institutions of higher education, university system capital building funds, the scholars program, the cancellation of unexpended appropriations, transfers from the Bank of North Dakota to the skilled workforce loan repayment program fund and the skilled workforce scholarship fund, transfers from the Bank of North Dakota to the skilled workforce loan repayment program fund, the skilled workforce scholarship fund, and to the state board of higher education for dual‑credit tuition scholarships, and funding for hyperbaric oxygen therapy; to repeal section 15‑10‑74 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the naming of the Bismarck state college polytechnic center; to authorize the state board of higher education to issue and sell bonds for capital projects; to provide for a transfer; to provide for the conveyance of real property; to provide for a legislative management higher education funding review committee; to provide for a legislative management study; to provide for a report; to provide legislative intent; to provide an exemption; and to declare an emergency.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Signed May 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

FIRST ENGROSSMENT Enrollment · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was revised from its first engrossment version to enrollment, updating the session dates to January 7, 2025, and significantly expanding the bill's scope to include new sections on presidential searches and the state commissioner of higher education. Funding amounts were adjusted for several university system categories, with notable changes to system governance and the addition of state employee child care benefits funding.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include new provisions for presidential searches and the state commissioner of higher education, and to repeal a section related to naming a state college polytechnic center.
TIMELINE

The effective date period was changed from a fixed biennium beginning July 1, 2025 to a period beginning with the effective date of the Act, ending June 30, 2027.

SCOPE

New sections were added to chapter 15-10 of the North Dakota Century Code regarding presidential searches and the state commissioner of higher education.

A repeal was added to remove section 15-10-74 of the North Dakota Century Code, which related to naming the Bismarck state college polytechnic center.

The bill was updated to reference House Bill No. 1437 as approved by the sixty-ninth legislative assembly and to include subsection 17 of section 1 of chapter 550 of the 2021 Special Session Session Laws.

FISCAL

System governance funding was reduced from $12,843,487 to $11,750,226, while new funding of $910,000 was added for state employee child care benefits.

The Education challenge fund received a new enhancement of $25,000,000, and the Dakota digital academy received an enhancement of $450,000.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 25, 2025 · House Apr 18, 2025

How they voted

442
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 47
Feb 25, 2025
D Democratic5
4 Yea 1
80% Yea
R Republican42
40 Yea 2 Nay
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
72
Key actions
59
Committee
52
Amendments
2
Jun 11, 2025
Introduced
Filed with Secretary Of State 05/12
legislature
May 17, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor 05/12
upper
May 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 69 nays 18
lower
May 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 42 nays 2, Emergency clause carried
upper
May 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report adopted
upper
May 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference committee appointed Swiontek Sanford Richter
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee appointed Sorvaag Schaible Thomas
upper
Apr 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 62 nays 25
lower
Apr 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 20 0 3
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:00
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:00
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:30
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:00
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:30
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 11:00
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:45
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 08:30
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:00
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:30
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:15
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 08:00
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:00
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:30
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:15
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 08:00
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Appropriations Committee
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 44 nays 2
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Amended
Amendment failed
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
Amendment proposed on floor
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 15 1 0
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:00
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:45
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:15
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 08:30
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 03:30
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:45
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:00
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:45
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:15
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 08:30
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:00
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 08:30
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:00
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:15
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 08:30
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:30
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 08:30
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:15
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 01:30
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:45
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:15
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 08:30
upper
Jan 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 04:00
upper
Jan 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 03:15
upper
Jan 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:15
upper
Jan 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 01:30
upper
Jan 7, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Appropriations Committee
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.