North Dakota Senate advances wide package of bills; close votes on student voting and AmeriCorps tax deduction

BISMARCK — The North Dakota Senate moved a long list of House bills to final passage on a day dominated by routine committee recommendations and final roll-call votes, while sharper debate produced close outcomes on a school voting policy and a proposal to exempt AmeriCorps education awards from state income tax.

Senators approved a range of measures on transportation, veterans recognition, regulatory updates, and technical corrections to state law. Most bills received unanimous or near-unanimous support on the floor; a handful drew narrow margins or failed after roll-call votes.

Why it matters: The session advanced measures that change who may receive certain state benefits, adjust regulatory language to match federal or national model rules, designate highways and bridges in memory of service members, and alter program eligibility or administrative processes. Several items carry emergency clauses or effective dates that speed implementation; others are technical updates intended to align state statutes with federal standards or current agency practice.

Major outcomes and context

- Student voting policy: The Senate debated House Bill 11-78, which would require school districts to adopt a policy allowing students age 18 or older to leave campus to vote. Supporters called the measure a way to normalize voting for newly eligible citizens; opponents and the Senate Education Committee argued districts already have authority and that a statewide mandate would create an unnecessary new requirement. The final vote was 24 ayes, 23 nays; the bill passed by a single-vote margin.

- Segal AmeriCorps education award tax deduction: House Bill 11-07 sought to exempt the Segal AmeriCorps education award from state income tax. Committee testimony cited recruitment and volunteerism goals and estimated roughly 50 North Dakotans receive awards annually, with award amounts tied to Pell grant levels. The Senate rejected the measure on the floor, 22 ayes to 25 nays.

- Numerous bills passed on final tally with wide support. Examples include: House Bill 11-08 (interstate contracts for treatment of mental illness/substance use disorder; final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay; emergency clause carried), House Bill 10-39 (expansion of the professional health program to former licensees; 46–1), House Bill 10-30 (renaming drug court to treatment court; 46–1); House Bill 10-90 and multiple bridge/highway naming bills (unanimous or near-unanimous support); and House Bill 12-11 (allowing hydroelectric facilities to receive renewable energy certificates; 47–0).

- Agency and regulatory updates: The Senate approved several…