Fargo HRC hears state legislative update on transgender restroom rules, vouchers and library bill

Kristin Nelson, a commission member, told the Fargo Human Rights Commission on April 17 that several state bills this session could affect schools, libraries and students across Fargo.

Nelson summarized changes to what she called “house bill 1144,” describing the latest amendment as one that would bar “multi-stall, gender neutral restrooms and shower rooms” on school grounds and require separate facilities for males and females. “There is a civil penalty of $2,500 for each violation and to declare an emergency,” Nelson said, and she noted the measure directs the attorney general to investigate complaints but uses the word “may,” not “shall,” for enforcement actions.

The update noted the bill returned to the House after Senate changes and may go to conference committee. Nelson also described a shorter, contested measure she identified as “house bill 1181,” saying the bill’s newer language removed earlier, broader edits to Century Code and state documents and will return to the House for agreement or go to conference committee.

Nelson summarized two competing education savings account proposals: “house bill 1540” would create accounts managed by the Bank of North Dakota for tuition, books, tutoring and technology, but testimony raised unanswered questions about who would administer the accounts and the fiscal note; “senate bill 2400” proposes a larger marketplace-style voucher program and carries a fiscal estimate Nelson described as about $240,000,000 and set to grow each biennium. She said the Senate bill faced strong pushback because of its price tag.

Commissioners were also briefed on senate bill 2307, which Nelson described as a library “safety” bill that she called a censorship measure. “This bill is currently on the way to the governor. We are asking folks to contact Governor Armstrong for a veto,” she said, and she provided the governor’s public message line noted during the meeting.

Nelson added that the Legislature restored an increase in public school funding to 3% per biennium and that the governor signed a law outlawing ranked-choice voting statewide.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about implementation and enforcement, including who would pay civil penalties and how schools might handle nonbinary students. Nelson and other members framed much of the discussion as information for community awareness rather than local action items at this meeting.

Members did not take a formal vote on any of the bills during the meeting; the update was given for information and to inform future HRC advocacy or community education activities.