[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6290001,"mediaKeyId","2531713-e59f04af243ce3879231edfe3f95b6a3","parentId",2531713,"title","Committee recommends changes to Career Builders and expands low‑income state grant cap; amendment loosens cost‑of‑attendance restriction","audioSeconds",4101,"startMs",4108000,"endMs",6651,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531713-e59f04af243ce3879231edfe3f95b6a3&start=4108&end=6","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531713-e59f04af243ce3879231edfe3f95b6a3/thumbnail_4108000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6290001/North-Dakota/Committee-recommends-changes-to-Career-Builders-and-expands-lowincome-state-grant-cap-amendment-loosens-costofattendance-restriction","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6290001-c6c04b8fb6e16ca967b3213e0e0429e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773698743&Signature=ATVVX58Rt4HtjRVs~TtEQl2Tqz2DY0lPMawhCqjdh4FAx-1yNlCpkOZMiP0BwtncfwjpQ8-gQ63HtaEMrNqa2ms78o8SPBYgme8ScdjpUJCCfBaP9HYUbEUp1czXjfTpgrizDd9h7S5Nos0Nr7m73N0GcaOUNJAEu0IC5capGKhrQxiL4QTkk-G5aS3G-~ZbSzR76jng7V4wtEC804--e6a9eC8EntsWDaGNt7TxLJrcu2P7EeJq2G13DX68ENrS-eMF9u3S9GSu8ku0d9-JqKu0xvgibFnFkYLVleYtaVyzP1MgXzsEJMxb5JzDK~H7DGqf3jIxHZ9Xq00x9G7rpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-03-10T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 2147, addressing the Career Builders scholarship/loan‑repayment program, Native American scholarships and a supplemental state grant for low‑income students, received testimony and amendments in the House Education Committee before the panel voted to recommend the bill be referred to Appropriations.

Senator Jonathan Sickler, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the measure is the result of the interim Higher Education Committee’s work to improve student financial assistance programs that target workforce needs and low‑income students. He described several program changes: clarifying the definition of \"private sector donor,\" allowing private donors and employers greater discretion over repayment terms, permitting Career Builders eligibility for people who live just across state borders (within 50 miles) but work in North Dakota, and codifying the practice that total state financial aid awarded cannot exceed an individual student's cost of attendance.

Sickler said the supplemental state grant for low‑income students would be tied to the highest in‑state public tuition rate (so the grant amount is capped at the institution's cost of attendance after other aid is applied). The University System estimates that change would increase annual state costs by roughly $6,100,000; sponsors included a $12,200,000 appropriation in the bill to cover the biennial impact.

Supporters from business and health care testified in favor of strengthening Career Builders. Andrea Fenig of the Greater North Dakota Chamber said the program is a valuable public‑private partnership that helps fill high‑demand occupations identified by the Workforce Development Council. Marnie Walt of Sanford Health said health care accounts for roughly 30 percent of Career Builders uses at her institution and that the program reduced reliance on expensive contract staff.

Representative Schreiberbeck offered an amendment to remove statutory language that prevented the State Board of Higher Education from issuing scholarships that exceed a student's total cost of attendance. Schreiberbeck said the change was prompted by constituents who lost state scholarship awards because other scholarships put them at or above the statutory cap; she argued students should not be penalized when they earn outside scholarships. The amendment was seconded and adopted on a roll call (11‑3). Opponents of the amendment raised concerns about losing a policy control that prevented combined awards from exceeding cost‑of‑attendance limits.

After amendment debate the committee moved a do‑pass recommendation and referred Senate Bill 2147, as amended, to the Appropriations Committee. The committee recorded a unanimous roll‑call vote in favor of the do‑pass referral (14‑0).

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education Monday, Mar 10, 2025 9:27 AM - 11:17 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 2147, which revises Career Builders, expands a supplemental grant for low‑income students and places several program practices into law, was amended and recommended for referral to Appropriations by the House Education Committee.","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},6290006,"Committee advances constitutional measure to divert Common Schools Trust Fund dollars for school construction; opponents warn of long‑term losses",3374,130000,3504000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531713-e59f04af243ce3879231edfe3f95b6a3&start=130&end=3504","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531713-e59f04af243ce3879231edfe3f95b6a3/thumbnail_130000.jpg","/articles/6290006/North-Dakota/Committee-advances-constitutional-measure-to-divert-Common-Schools-Trust-Fund-dollars-for-school-construction-opponents-warn-of-longterm-losses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6290006-153727500ab2021e2daf0306842611f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773698743&Signature=EgHVgorMZPjpGIwyq-XCPmxOy~PybEuW83YZ-R6Z9mZNF~g9yDsFVpNQzee~-3ZBAhDDXB~W9kMG3S577sH7iNTaFg9vBsLwyz5tbVGQjJ1b1W-QWK-zSXYuRKAEnyZ5SiIPHtjjrASucxmgNZlsbH0u-zARWLIGaPbayq14p8xi86o4ty0z7QBFxozFjTZSHF77vgmWYcPndMoCdMzNNseM2kzzT4U7SEUmf5q7lv9Zi7iCb3CLVPk2~ZLKptvqbOM~p9uWlC0obJ~BYOZwc7ElAH0024KJ-1U0XS~aun3WvQt6zEQME8h4A0m5bu-K~GHR0CId4sgM~fSpDNxd7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Education Committee Chairman Heinert moved the meeting onto House Concurrent Resolution 3035, a proposed constitutional amendment to authorize a dedicated draw from the Common Schools Trust Fund for school construction.

Representative Eric Murphy (District 43, Grand Forks), the bill sponsor, told the committee the proposal would put a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot allowing voters to decide whether to authorize additional withdrawals from the Common Schools Trust Fund for school construction. \"We can either get ahead of the problem or we wait until the courts tell us there's a problem that we already recognize,\" Murphy told the committee, referring to perceived inequities between rural and urban districts.

Murphy said the concurrent resolution would authorize roughly $300 million a year beginning in 2028 under one scenario and described the proposal as an alternative funding strategy after a related bill (16‑04) failed this session. He warned the change would reduce the fund's regular distribution and asked members for a green vote.

Several witnesses and organizations testified in opposition. Joseph Herringer, Commissioner of the Department of Trust Lands, told the committee the amendment would mandate $3,000,000,000 in withdrawals from the perpetual trusts over 10 years and, based on the department's modeling, would reduce the fund balance by roughly $5,700,000,000 over 30 years. He said the change would reduce cumulative distributions and cautioned committee members that the proposal could conflict with Article 9, Section 2, Paragraph 1 of the North Dakota Constitution, which he said prevents diverting trust funds away from the benefit of all common schools. \"This constitutional amendment will mandate $3,000,000,000 from the perpetual trust over 10 years,\" Herringer said, and added the department projects lower long‑term earnings and distributions as a result.

Representatives from the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders and North Dakota Small Organized Schools also opposed the measure, saying the Common Schools Trust Fund exists to support the per‑pupil payment and that diverting principal for construction would shrink the fund's future distributions and increase future reliance on other revenue sources. The council's representative noted prior attorney general opinions concluding the trust fund, as currently constituted, may not be used for school construction without a constitutional change.

Committee debate reflected the split: some members said they were uneasy about tapping a perpetual trust, its constitutional implications and the lack of an implementing statute if voters approved a constitutional amendment; others said school facilities are urgent in parts of the state and the fund is available for the public benefit. Representative Novak said she was \"torn\" but worried about negative impacts to the per‑pupil payment; Representative Jonas urged action to address failing facilities.

After discussion Representative Hoke moved a \"do pass\" and referral to the Appropriations Committee; Representative Morton seconded. The committee recorded a roll‑call vote: yes — Representatives Conmey, Hager, Haddleston, Hauck, Jonas, Mackey, Marshall, Morton and Novak (9); no — Chairman Heinert, Vice Chair Schreiberbeck, Heilman, Longmire and Osovski (5). The motion passed 9‑5. Representative Hoke agreed to carry the measure to Appropriations.

The committee closed the hearing after testimony and debate and sent HCR 3035 to the next step in the process for further review.

","House Education Committee Chairman Heinert moved the meeting onto House Concurrent Resolution 3035, a proposed constitutional amendment to authorize a dedicated draw from the Common Schools Trust Fund for school construction.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6289996,"Committee backs K‑3 foreign language pilot, approving grants for districts to start early instruction",0,5521000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2531713-e59f04af243ce3879231edfe3f95b6a3&start=5521&end=5521","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2531713-e59f04af243ce3879231edfe3f95b6a3/thumbnail_5521000.jpg","/articles/6289996/North-Dakota/Committee-backs-K3-foreign-language-pilot-approving-grants-for-districts-to-start-early-instruction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6289996-3efa6beba2231f04e9153e361ac8ca73/orig.mp4?Expires=1773698744&Signature=YraCY3N6Gt~6uQA9dh~93dxDAClmmGVhBNho~5iXG7O6ecoSRTgbLxGrdohibgnh6nZR8BzTZkRG7k1yYl7TNexrygzb8TTl2YyUXnbFpaDBJpi~cGVBoBeYaJ5lHrfnx6HGXzq~SrJvDowUqB3XZX9lZSZGOHM5txKhpbkJadp4k8TwlRnQtUGBJ0NReCA7XQOwDXibFDXjRsZzzdjzNakKupU-L3HHGr2Y5ToqKLUlmw07pY246dnurMMZwugob2EHFKsbwhhK2MZrs5XE0Ik9E2Un9kN8xee2LIDiNdf12eIKAVi7jl7583b0qIsvkJxMF9bKclTOg2p6hfWeaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Larry Lueck presented Senate Bill 2275, a pilot program to provide grants to schools that offer foreign language instruction to students in kindergarten through grade 3. Lueck said the proposal is intended to expand early language learning opportunities and encourage districts to introduce language instruction at a stage when children acquire languages more readily.

Lueck described the measure as a local‑control pilot: school boards would determine which languages to teach, and the bill would fund instructional grants through school districts rather than issuing stipends directly to individual instructors. He said earlier drafts proposed $2,500 stipends per participant but that Department of Public Instruction staff recommended a grant model and larger per‑site funding; the draft that reached the committee carried a $49,500 appropriation for the pilot program.

Representative Halstead asked whether instructors must be certified in the language; Lueck said the bill leaves implementation details to local boards and the superintendent will develop participation requirements. Representative Conley noted community members or native speakers could assist. Supporters argued early childhood is an opportune time to teach languages, citing cognitive benefits and cultural awareness.

Representative Morton moved a \"do pass\" recommendation with a second from Representative Novak. The committee took a roll call and approved the measure 13‑1; Representative Heilman was recorded as the lone no vote. The panel directed that the bill go to the Fiscal Committee for appropriation review.

","House Education advanced Senate Bill 2275, a pilot grant program to fund foreign language instruction for kindergarten through grade 3. Sponsor Senator Larry Lueck said early exposure improves language acquisition; the bill moved out of committee on a 13‑1 vote with a legislative fiscal referral.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee recommends changes to Career Builders and expands low‑income state grant cap; amendment loosens cost‑of‑attendance restriction

Committee advances constitutional measure to divert Common Schools Trust Fund dollars for school construction; opponents warn of long‑term losses

Committee backs K‑3 foreign language pilot, approving grants for districts to start early instruction