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 bills that align state rules with federal standards or national model laws, including updates to meat inspection (House Bill 10-85), milk/pasteurization rules (House Bill 10-83), insurance holding company law alignment with NAIC model updates (House Bill 11-24), and adoption of the social work licensure compact (House Bill 10-35).

- Transportation and infrastructure: The chamber approved bills affecting the state highway system, county and township infrastructure fund distribution, and authorization for the DOT to accept ownership of a proposed bridge and roadways related to a project over Oahe Reservoir (the project estimate mentioned during debate was roughly $400,000,000 and described as 100% federally funded; committee testimony estimated 6–7 years for the environmental study, design and construction).

Votes at a glance (selected bills discussed on the floor)

- House Bill 11-08 (interstate treatment contracts): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay; emergency clause carried. - House Bill 10-39 (professional health program expansion to former licensees): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 10-30 (change "drug court" to "treatment court"): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 10-90 (designate bridge on State Highway 18 for Specialist Richard W. Orson): Passed, final tally 47–0; emergency clause carried. - House Bill 11-24 (NAIC holding company law alignment): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 10-45 (fees for remote training and renewals for security officers): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 10-70 (CHIP eligibility alignment): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 11-15 (tax commissioner forms and penalties updates): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 12-11 (renewable energy certificates: hydroelectric facilities): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-43 (technical correction re: State Water Commission vice chairman): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 12-61 (repeal obsolete special education strategist credentials): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 11-33 (county superintendent records language clean-up): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-74 (update Uniform Code of Military Justice reference for National Guard): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 12-15 (repeal participation in multistate highway transportation group): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 12-28 (designate portion of State Highway 5 for LCDR Carl J. Woods): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 12-12 (designate portion of State Highway 18 for PFC Henry Gherke): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 11-73 (designate bridge for Specialist Dennis J. Fritter Jr.): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-35 (social work licensure compact): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-85 (adopt current federal meat inspection guidelines): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 14-03 (designate POW/MIA day): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 15-20 (transfer real property to adjutant general for training/storage facility; emergency): Passed, final tally 47–0; emergency clause carried. - House Bill 11-48 (designate May as Military Appreciation Month): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 11-80 (veteran benefits alignment with federal terminology): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-40 (drought disaster livestock water assistance eligibility change): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 10-83 (adopt NCIMS milk/pasteurized milk ordinance updates): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-84 (poultry/egg management updates): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 13-97 (designate "Dancin Dakota" as state waltz and create state troubadour): Passed, final tally 44 ayes, 3 nays. - House Bill 10-75 (criminal history checks for Dept. of Emergency Services): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 10-76 (increase National Guard death benefit to $100,000; emergency): Passed, final tally 47–0; emergency clause carried. - House Bill 10-79 (rename Dept. of Emergency Services divisions): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 10-33 (concurrent federal jurisdiction on military installations for juveniles): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-31 (technical corrections omnibus): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-82 (scientific name update for farmed elk): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-62 (public service commission cleanup): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 10-65 (county & township infrastructure fund mileage-based distribution): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 12-81 (fuel tax refunds extended to fire departments): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-69 (repeal diabetes goals statute): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-72 (foster care, guardianship, and review timelines): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 10-51 (special road fund: add tribal governments as eligible applicants): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 10-56 (Oahe bridge project authorization and state acceptance): Passed, final tally 45 ayes, 2 nays. - House Bill 10-55 (repeal obsolete hydraulic brake fluid regulation): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 13-57 (student data system migration; DPI as contracting entity): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 11-79 (study of paid time off for 12-month higher-ed faculty): Lost in the Senate, final tally 0 ayes, 47 nays. - House Bill 11-07 (Segal AmeriCorps education award income tax deduction): Lost, final tally 22 ayes, 25 nays. - House Bill 10-87 (licensing for PBM administrators): Passed, final tally 47–0. - House Bill 11-20 (adoption technical corrections and child-placing agency clarifications): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 1 nay. - House Bill 10-81 (fixed asset minimum reporting value to $5,000; emergency): Passed, final tally 47–0; emergency clause carried. - House Bill 11-16 (autopsy disclosure to Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent. - House Bill 15-09 (refunds of assessments collected by Oilseed Council): Lost, final tally reflected loss on the floor. - House Bill 13-34 (designate rhubarb as official vegetable): Passed, final tally 24 ayes, 22 nays, 1 absent. - House Bill 12-93 (veterans burial medallion program): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent. - House Bill 11-35 (increase Veterans Loan Fund maximum loan): Passed, final tally 46 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent.

Discussion highlights and clarifications

- Lawmakers frequently noted committee votes and sponsors during floor consideration; most bills were presented by a committee chair who summarized intent, fiscal notes or technical changes, and the committee recommendation. Where committee testimony or the sponsor provided numbers or background, the Senate record noted those specifics (for example, the Oahe bridge project was described as 100% federally funded with an estimated $400 million construction cost and a multiyear environmental and design timeline).

- Several measures were described as technical updates to retain accreditation or compliance with federal or national standards (insurance NAIC model updates, milk and meat inspection code updates, and adoption of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator name in statute). Sponsors and committee chairs said failure to adopt such updates could restrict interstate commerce or accreditation status.

- The Senate recorded roll-call tallies at each final passage; opposition and narrow margins were called out on the floor. Where committee votes or public testimony were mentioned, those are summarized above and attributed to the senator(s) who presented each bill during floor consideration.

Taper: The Senate concluded the day's business by setting its next convening for 1 p.m. Monday, March 10, 2025, and announcing committee meeting times for the coming week.