HB 1490 requires North Dakota school counselors to undergo periodic psychological evaluations by licensed psychologists to ensure they can safely and effectively provide student services. The bill mandates that counselors must obtain documentation from a psychologist confirming they lack conditions impairing their ability to work with students, with evaluations valid for two years. This applies specifically to licensed school counselors working in North Dakota public schools. The bill failed to pass in the legislature on February 19, 2025, with 18 votes in favor and 74 against.
HB 1333 proposes requiring North Dakota public school districts to provide students with at least 30 minutes for lunch daily between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It also allows high school students to be excused from the class immediately following lunch if they obtain a counselor’s written verification and provide it to their teacher once per semester. The bill directly affects all North Dakota public school districts and their students, particularly high schoolers seeking flexibility in their schedules. If enacted, it would establish a concrete, mandatory lunch break duration standard across the state’s public schools. (Note: The bill failed to pass in February 2025.)
HB 1456 would establish a framework for certified chaplains in North Dakota public schools, allowing school districts to hire or volunteer certified chaplains (defined as those certified by national/state organizations or endorsed by religious groups) to provide support to students, staff, or parents. The bill requires background checks for all chaplains, prohibits individuals required to register as sex offenders from serving, and protects chaplains from liability unless actions were maliciously intended to harm. It allocates $500,000 from the state general fund for 2025-2027 to cover chaplain salaries, training, oversight, and program evaluation, with districts limited to $200,000 per school. The bill directly affects public school districts, chaplains, and students/staff seeking spiritual support, while exempting chaplains from standard education licensing requirements.
HB 1590 would create a pilot program allowing North Dakota parents to open student education services accounts for K-12 children. Parents could deposit up to $2,000 annually per child, with the Bank of North Dakota matching 50% of those deposits. Funds could cover authorized expenses like career courses, tutoring, mental health services, and approved educational materials, with unused funds rolling over yearly. The pilot, running 2025-2027 with $41.2 million in state funding, would close accounts if students leave the state or don't pursue higher education, requiring parent refunds for contributed amounts.
Relating to a higher education infrastructure revolving loan fund; to provide an appropriation; to provide a transfer; and to provide for a legislative management report.
HB 1517 would create the North Dakota Student Teacher Scholarship Program to support future educators. It directs the state board of higher education to administer $4.2 million in state funds (for 2025-2027) to provide scholarships of up to $3,000 per semester toward tuition and fees for student teachers enrolled in state-approved teacher preparation programs during their student teaching experience. Eligibility requires enrollment in such a program, satisfactory academic progress, and no existing teaching license. The program would directly benefit undergraduate student teachers pursuing initial teaching licensure in North Dakota.
HB 1221 proposes allocating $24 million from North Dakota's general fund to the state board of higher education for workforce education innovation funds, to be distributed to eligible institutions during the 2025-2027 biennium. The bill provides direct funding for programs aimed at enhancing workforce training and education initiatives, primarily affecting community colleges and vocational schools eligible to receive these grants. It does not create new programs but establishes a funding mechanism for existing or planned workforce development efforts. The bill failed to pass in the legislature on February 11, 2025, with no support (0 yeas, 91 nays).
HB 1376 would have required North Dakota high schools to provide annual CPR training to students, including bleeding control techniques, taught by certified instructors (such as those from the American Heart Association or Red Cross). Schools would have been permitted to offer optional certification, with the state reimbursing districts for training costs. The bill aimed to equip students with life-saving skills but failed to pass in the February 5, 2025, vote with 0 yeas and 92 nays. This legislation directly affected public high school students and school districts across North Dakota.
HB 1171 creates a scholarship program for dependents of North Dakota law enforcement family members, directly affecting eligible students whose parents or guardians are full-time law enforcement officers (including correctional officers, firefighters, EMS providers, or peace officers) with at least three years of service. The program covers 50% of tuition costs (minus other aid) at state higher education institutions, administered by the State Board of Higher Education. It appropriates $5 million from the general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium to fund these scholarships. The bill defines eligibility through tax dependency exemptions and enrollment at state-controlled colleges or universities.
HCR 3002 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow North Dakota to authorize and regulate sports betting within the state. If approved by voters, it would amend the state constitution to permit the legislature to license and regulate sports betting on professional and college sports. All tax revenue generated from sports betting would be required to fund K-12 public schools. This change would directly affect all North Dakotans by altering the state's legal framework for gambling and directing new revenue toward public education.
