[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6326936,"mediaKeyId","2323588-3823c72231e33a21757ef10f2ca81cd6","parentId",2323588,"title","Committee deadlocks on micro‑school bill after contentious debate on zoning, safety and oversight","audioSeconds",1300,"startMs",1132000,"endMs",2432000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323588-3823c72231e33a21757ef10f2ca81cd6&start=1132&end=2432","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323588-3823c72231e33a21757ef10f2ca81cd6/thumbnail_1132000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6326936/North-Dakota/Committee-deadlocks-on-microschool-bill-after-contentious-debate-on-zoning-safety-and-oversight","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326936-ad50a3d9456ab01ddab8a854a5731b79/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153326&Signature=PBPzN8yCJkQTXkQpNlyLQ60yyz8WsOWcvfcVLv-GE~bHOtP9gMjpnpQc1Qo-F6-28Xz1m7Oxo0VHULNjCtOmCfbm1UOHAC243EltWJAWw4ShyCe1Xsw3yzIkS-BeGlwfGE71-GdtxWLLXCEiCzaI4L~xvg57XkxL1zgrUKrAaa~aUcdX0OTZNImndhSWaN7jEbksc5R5bZ0WwK3ZmVRJGKMUYSp4Y8lhbCMssHsmNxS7dwJ-xcoIu-UeRlbQSjjTsWSJVtLj82w1Zlf4r5aM2POAT4wQnQprX5xA1Cjw16iTeOCxmR8EqSdZvopnx0J38Q9OmGNJgd7NY0P8m9pLkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","The House Education Committee engaged in lengthy, sometimes heated debate over House Bill 14‑72 on Wednesday, with members sharply divided over whether the bill would create unregulated \"micro‑schools\" that could avoid local building, fire and health codes.

Representative Morton moved to amend the bill to remove a line exempting criminal‑history record checks; that amendment passed on a roll call recorded in committee as 14 yes, 0 no. The amended bill remained controversial. Opponents, led by Representative Hager, argued the bill could permit micro‑schools serving as many as 50 children to operate without routine building or fire inspection, teacher‑certification safeguards, or food‑safety oversight. Hager said she was \"very concerned\" that exemptions would leave students less protected and suggested the subject should be studied further by the interim education committee.

Supporters, including Representative Morton and Representative Hoch, said the measure mainly would create an option for families—often homeschoolers—to share instruction in small, informal settings, and that most would use existing, safe facilities such as churches or storefronts. Several sponsors said micro‑schools would be subject to the same standardized testing and compulsory‑attendance requirements that apply to other homeschoolers and pledged to adjust numeric limits if committee members requested smaller caps.

Representative Shriver Beck and others also expressed concern about language that would preempt municipal zoning rules and give micro‑school land‑use and building‑permit applications priority processing. Representative Shriver Beck said she did not understand why the bill would \"ignore zoning.\" Representative Jonas, who works with city government in West Fargo, objected to giving micro‑schools precedence over private enterprises in zoning districts.

When the committee called the question on a due‑pass recommendation, the vote deadlocked 7 yes, 7 no. Members then moved to record a do‑not‑pass recommendation; that vote also resulted in a 7‑7 tie. After parliamentary discussion and consultation with Legislative Council staff, the committee voted to send the bill to the House floor without a committee recommendation (a tie leaves both a majority and a minority report). Committee leaders instructed Legislative Council to prepare the documentation necessary to present both reports on the floor.

Committee members requested follow‑up assistance from Legislative Council on the parliamentary handling of a 7‑7 split and asked staff to prepare paperwork to present both majority and minority positions if the bill proceeds to floor debate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education Mon, Feb 17, 2025 2:00 PM-4:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The House Education Committee split 7‑7 over House Bill 14‑72 on Wednesday after prolonged debate about whether the measure would create \"micro‑schools\" exempt from local building, fire and health codes.","taxTitle","Education, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28889,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326941,"Committee adopts amendment to require schools to offer voluntary daily Pledge of Allegiance",262,786000,1048000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323588-3823c72231e33a21757ef10f2ca81cd6&start=786&end=1048","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323588-3823c72231e33a21757ef10f2ca81cd6/thumbnail_786000.jpg","/articles/6326941/North-Dakota/Committee-adopts-amendment-to-require-schools-to-offer-voluntary-daily-Pledge-of-Allegiance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326941-67f1382bfba0d3d56567180b89b8bbce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153326&Signature=AEPPGbwkXjLb9DTGdRYb31sWUsyaa6D7LDIPtf3ZFwdDmkneKvwE9JroZBaFVPt8r9Y-9VDEKUonSVKgYEatdT8tET10~CysDiO6Iv4aHYY~uxct3KwzZN464OKTd6qlHbQnrgvmuO2GsrlHKY6Qh7npwpJZeZwD3~K7tqDNeCPhMjKCZNJN6CYNGz9Qq9G05W58XdsedyPE91POT3yYVJ3AA5T~fl668vwbbAhN5EqE6pPJAi~aPlhICzqBvas7Hee0nG7tVm8lW5CN5vOE08-8QK438~vRbjNXo2jitnZQPseMH7r74BJ-4o0sdLaaGPio6~9uFu2DLr4rS3ZCSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee on Wednesday amended House Bill 12‑22 to add a district‑level policy directing schools to offer students the voluntary opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily.

Representative Novak, sponsor of the amendment, said the language is intended to accommodate schools with staggered start times and other scheduling differences. \"The board of a school district shall adopt a policy requiring each school… to offer all students the opportunity to voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each school day,\" Novak said while describing the amendment; he also emphasized that \"a student may not be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.\"

The committee voted to adopt Amendment 01001 as presented by Representative Novak; the amendment passed on a roll call recorded as 14 yes, 0 no. After adopting the amendment, the committee voted 13 yes, 1 no to give the amended bill a due‑pass recommendation to the House floor.

Representative Jonas agreed to carry the bill to the floor on behalf of the sponsor.

During discussion, members and the sponsor said the amendment aims to avoid constitutional concerns by preserving voluntariness and to allow local school boards to set the implementation policy. No fiscal notes or statutory citations were offered during the recorded discussion.

The committee's action moves HB 12‑22, as amended, to the House floor with a committee recommendation for passage.","The House Education Committee amended House Bill 12‑22 to require school boards to adopt policies giving students the voluntary opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each school day and recommended the bill for a due pass to the floor.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326946,"House Education committee reconsiders, amends House Bill 14‑97 and votes to advance",502,247000,749000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323588-3823c72231e33a21757ef10f2ca81cd6&start=247&end=749","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323588-3823c72231e33a21757ef10f2ca81cd6/thumbnail_247000.jpg","/articles/6326946/North-Dakota/House-Education-committee-reconsiders-amends-House-Bill-1497-and-votes-to-advance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326946-df82b961c4855639f5d5f36418a0d8dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153326&Signature=ZNefdgugGPqfd-3d7ZgqcLyhO8xUj-uYlDDl9HxQj0rGJfPqGOuTnPNo4eTlN1ssyDJCy7jbddX0sb-00lubeXwK3jggsqrOxPgvDgKOH8sVD8OHxjJ26C4GV70AWFGB4pXkFz-8r3hQLnxv9cKcoZgRvFoGVVbu37eEv2i173~uVf9wHMvRCR7O4QT9fil4VX68HQ60FFMoujWI7O33-5bfEv1yCDSJJHEKdDMev6~-nwJxOzBrOiGCHr5fTfqiGUBUj7IkY1X-6-GLVNt1NNs~PB04fCmpDU-i22D6~4MyuLMBflExcVVC0o19562mjOiYqx5Ci-LaZUUgPN5I2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee voted Wednesday to reconsider and amend House Bill 14‑97, then approved a committee recommendation that the bill be given a due‑pass on the floor.

The committee first approved a motion by Representative Schreiber Beck, seconded by Representative Longmire, to reconsider earlier committee action on House Bill 14‑97. The reconsideration passed on a roll call recorded in committee as 13 yes, 0 no, 1 absent.

Committee members then voted to replace the previously approved language with the text shown in the committee’s laws document (version 0.03). Representative Shriver Back moved the reamendment to version 0.03; Representative Haddleston seconded. Committee members also approved adding an emergency clause to the amended bill after a second motion; Representative Novak seconded that motion.

After those changes, Representative Schreiber Beck moved for a due‑pass recommendation on the amended bill; Representative Novak seconded the motion. The roll call for the due‑pass recommendation recorded 11 yes, 2 no, 1 absent, and the motion prevailed.

Committee staff directed members to the committee \"laws\" document and confirmed that the amendment as submitted to Legislative Council had omitted language the committee intended; the reamendment restored the committee’s intended text.

The committee record shows the bill will be carried to the House floor by the committee sponsor following the committee’s due‑pass recommendation.

The committee did not cite any state statute or other authority during the discussion. No fiscal note or dollar amounts were presented during the recorded discussion.","The House Education Committee reconsidered House Bill 14‑97, approved an amendment to align the text with the version in the committee's \"laws\" document, added an emergency clause, and voted to give the bill a due‑pass recommendation to the floor.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326931,"Committee issues do‑not‑pass on high‑school activities bill; association agrees to independent appeals board",1161,2475000,3636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323588-3823c72231e33a21757ef10f2ca81cd6&start=2475&end=3636","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323588-3823c72231e33a21757ef10f2ca81cd6/thumbnail_2475000.jpg","/articles/6326931/North-Dakota/Committee-issues-donotpass-on-highschool-activities-bill-association-agrees-to-independent-appeals-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326931-689e8d7a9225c28dd97523d31e9679bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153326&Signature=ZZXrtKUeN5muPjsJi3Yf~GQV17C-ROoUO8dTyESubrY4KjXrGwA8PnvXcQEVWdmCSxWZkcBUhw0sWzSwSkD-VWq-GG~R8CLVVYEQouju3Wft2KO1xMrsy-SG64tIJWFqE8pTGvTTNcgyqg~zJciG1ucvB9Ajhp6BAiNvGbS4DA7OWofpL3YZM3Wf3Im9bm6ahdk2FOTGuUtPmHOURuCqeqdu1AW6le8V1jTXreooRDMIgWdICLQClZFJ4Eb18hPuyeXtQaDHa7JXAckPVdYoX9K18xahReaCA6ByJrMWL05P5NEQsZ5WzER-zEqyKCgtoX7h93XxVXUMp7ggX5X7DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee voted to recommend a do‑not‑pass on House Bill 14‑91 after an extended discussion about recruiting, transfers and appeals in high‑school athletics and activities. At the same hearing, members were told the High School Activities Association (HSAA) board met Friday and approved development of an independent hearing/appeals committee.

Representative Jonas, who led the committee discussion of the bill, said the association, its sponsors and committee members had been in discussion and that the HSAA held a special meeting on Friday to consider possible reforms. Jonas described progress on adding an appeals step involving a board of at least three independent individuals chosen from around the state to hear hardship and eligibility appeals. Jonas said the association surveyed athletic directors and that \"91%\" of ADs responded favorably to current practices in one question; he added the association will reconsider policies that committee members have challenged.

Committee debate centered on preserving the integrity of teams at small rural schools and concerns about recruiting and transfers that opponents said could undermine small‑school athletics and activities. Supporters of the bill said the association has been responsive and that adding an independent appeals function could address some committee concerns.

Representative Jonas moved a do‑not‑pass motion; the committee approved the do‑not‑pass motion on a roll call recorded as 9 yes, 5 no. Jonas later reported receiving a text from the association’s executive director, Matt Fetch, indicating the HSAA board had approved work to develop an independent hearing committee \"starting next year.\" Committee leaders said the association’s commitment to create an independent appeals mechanism influenced some members to resist a final effort to kill the bill outright.

The do‑not‑pass recommendation will be reflected in the committee record; the bill carrier accepted responsibility to carry the measure to the Senate/House floor in its current posture.","The House Education Committee voted a do‑not‑pass recommendation on House Bill 14‑91 but received notice the High School Activities Association’s board approved creation of an independent appeals/hearing body to review certain eligibility decisions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee deadlocks on micro‑school bill after contentious debate on zoning, safety and oversight

Committee adopts amendment to require schools to offer voluntary daily Pledge of Allegiance

House Education committee reconsiders, amends House Bill 14‑97 and votes to advance

Committee issues do‑not‑pass on high‑school activities bill; association agrees to independent appeals board