House Education Committee members on Thursday gave House Bill 1133 a due pass after hearing that the bill corrects an inconsistency in North Dakota Century Code wording on records kept by county superintendents.

The bill, introduced to the committee at the request of the Department of Public Instruction, replaces instances of the word “property” in a statutory section with the word “records.” Representative Don Longmire introduced the bill and Jim Uppgren, legislative liaison for the Department of Public Instruction, testified in support.

Uppgren explained the rationale: “The title says preservation of records, but everything in the text of the bill uses the word property to describe those records. House Bill 1133 just cleans that language up, and every instance of property is just replaced with records.” He said the recommendation came from legal review in the Attorney General’s office.

Committee members asked a few clarifying questions about the practical difference between the terms. Uppgren said the department did not believe “property” in that section was intended to refer to tangible property such as land or vehicles and that the change aligns the statutory text with the section heading.

A motion for a due pass was made and seconded; the committee then voted to advance the bill. The clerk recorded that House Bill 1133 “due pass passes committee 1301,” recorded in committee minutes as a committee approval (tally reported as 13 yes, 0 no, 1 absent). Representative Don Longmire was named carrier for the bill.

The committee discussed placing HB1133 on a future consent agenda; members approved a separate motion to move the bill to the consent agenda with the understanding it could still be removed on the House floor if a member objects.

With the committee’s vote, the bill moves forward for further House consideration. No opposition testimony was offered at the committee hearing.