Representative Emily O’Brien told the House Education Committee that House Bill 1329 seeks to increase transparency of K‑12 spending by requiring a searchable public database and suggested pairing the portal with mandatory training for superintendents and school board members.

O’Brien said the aim is to give parents, boards and taxpayers a clear view of where dollars are spent so communities can “advocate for proven strategies that improve student outcomes and compensate teachers fairly.” She noted existing state transparency tools but said the proposal would consolidate district‑level spending details in a single, searchable place and suggested beginning with K‑12 rather than a broader set of political subdivisions.

Amy DeCook, executive director of the North Dakota School Boards Association, opposed the bill in its current form. She said the bill would impose a substantial, unfunded reporting burden on district business managers and other staff, who already handle payroll, budgets and compliance work. DeCook noted that DPI and OMB already publish substantial financial and staffing data and encouraged the committee to clarify technical implementation and funding before moving forward.

Sherry Neese of the Office of Management and Budget testified that OMB is neutral but recommended statutory edits: OMB already maintains a financial transparency website for state agencies and higher education that draws from the state PeopleSoft ERP. Neese suggested amendments that would limit OMB’s duties in the bill because state law already requires a searchable state financial database.

The committee closed the hearing after hearing support and opposition testimony and questions about implementation, compatibility with local financial systems, and whether the state would provide funding or technical assistance to districts.