[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6326857,"mediaKeyId","2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb","parentId",2323620,"title","Committee hears hours-long debate on bill to centralize funds for vacant higher-ed positions","audioSeconds",3592,"startMs",3986000,"endMs",7578000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb&start=3986&end=7578","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb/thumbnail_3986000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6326857/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-hours-long-debate-on-bill-to-centralize-funds-for-vacant-higher-ed-positions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326857-d03d1798c96fcc67fec259cf8070a376/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148157&Signature=OrmZ~lTj6kJ4mCAqbd2NWpaCjuVALpYYdUk4Bg~o965pnvoGmbGh-8yJrayjhY7HtOSMgfwKv1x~nGPgcSW5YxPCfkvoFAL~BS2LMHO9xRcZANa3kpuvkDPfH~RMHdgc-wI~eXFMvMmOWHWjKZZx2Gu4cVbnmDj1vQVEwHnlKL1qj4Bl2F3c7zUtVW32xscGC-v0096-KF0kahMFDYujbZD7UACBobUmEwRpzWmuU3ut7sCKgv2LWR2rbTDeO8Wlldz2XAg7KqPyCVJsv6pmGytTjuQebueD9fWA1kpYEV9IJuikePqkGg8m8QmnG8ai7v05a-eMvsAGztl~7~kdEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Eric Murphy presented an amended version of House Bill 11-61, which would require institutions under the State Board of Higher Education to list newly created and vacant full-time equivalent (FTE) positions annually and place appropriated salary and benefit funds for those vacancies into a central institutional pool for hiring needs.

Murphy told the committee the amendment retains the bill’s transparency goals while giving institutions flexibility: funds would be reported to the legislative budget section and could be used for salaries or operational needs, but all transfers and uses would be reported. He said the change aims to improve oversight and to speed hiring so that institutions can fill vacant positions—including faculty, administrators and staff—more quickly.

The sponsor emphasized hiring realities in higher education: searches typically begin late winter or spring for appointments that start July 1, searches may require multiple rounds if candidates decline, and temporary appointments are sometimes used to meet instructional needs. The amended bill would require institutions to list positions on Dec. 1 of even-numbered years and place projected funding into a central institutional pool; money would be released from that pool when an institution fills a position or to cover operations if needed, with reporting to the budget section.

The hearing drew extensive testimony in opposition from higher-education officials. Tim Mahalik, chair of the State Board of Higher Education, said the board opposed the original bill and needed time to review the amendment, but appreciated the sponsor’s intent. Mark Sanford (a state representative who has served on the interim higher-ed committee) said reporting made sense but warned the proposal could reduce institutions’ flexibility to address deferred maintenance, tuition waivers and changing program needs. Chad and campus finance leaders described deferred-maintenance backlogs and the need to reallocate resources between facilities, student support and program innovation.

NDSU faculty senate president Lisa Montpleasure and other campus officials said the bill as proposed could disrupt the established hiring rhythm in higher education, noting that searches and offers follow an academic calendar and that funds from vacant lines often support temporary or adjunct instruction to avoid course disruptions. University of North Dakota vice president Carla Mojan Stewart and UND President Andy Armacost said they opposed the original bill and called the amendment an improvement but said concerns about flexibility remain. Dickinson State and other presidents raised potential unintended consequences, including impacts on capital match requirements and the funding formula.

Committee members questioned whether other states use a central pool and whether the approach would harm students by delaying hires; Murphy said the intent is to speed hiring and increase transparency, not to limit institutions’ ability to respond. The State Board chancellor Mark Hagerot and presidents echoed concerns that additional external oversight could complicate campus responsiveness to workforce and curriculum needs.

No final vote on HB11-61 was recorded; the committee closed the hearing and left the bill for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education Mon, Feb 17, 2025 9:00 AM-12:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The House Education Committee held an extended hearing on House Bill 11-61, an amended proposal to require institutions to centralize funds for vacant higher-education FTE positions and report uses to the legislative budget section.","taxTitle","Education, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28889,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326862,"Committee recommends do not pass on school board observer bill",158,1797000,1955000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb&start=1797&end=1955","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb/thumbnail_1797000.jpg","/articles/6326862/North-Dakota/Committee-recommends-do-not-pass-on-school-board-observer-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326862-b5062e1efc016138790a93006726f065/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148157&Signature=RUa9kkxegxknmdHgGfyHnDKKptUSnBIpjq1FPjCOj8IJRcEV3O7xCL-QpS4pjtaBpDUexQwYDsOjNNaiF7gMivjjmxpMXe1cDiKEtQowkvMP7l7ECDiDJ9WdSLthu5nAY11tRzFIBvb7wdCLIU9bfzRDgPLMHNnd9W9GYHt8tah37FS9WcgXJFwHwmTCYKcyKLrV~JSWV7krAnEteTVBXlwNP7UXZ9ohGn8kJg2Xp8Vm4OKiStswneSF-0Tb2lkFNfSB-mqdP83l9e-SdOgBP9erzh3FV23P7l5EtugCekXo~1O87Bg81sLRfSyi~njpAM5J9qFxToAm0whWeuXW8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee moved to recommend do not pass on House Bill 15-16, which would have created a school-board observer position.

Representative Haddlestad moved the do-not-pass recommendation and Representative Jonas seconded. Committee discussion was brief and no additional amendments were offered. The roll call recorded seven votes in favor of do not pass, three opposed and four members absent; the committee reported the motion passed 7-3-4.

With the committee’s recommendation recorded, HB15-16 will not advance from the committee unless the full House takes further action.","House Bill 15-16, proposing a school board observer role, received a committee do-not-pass recommendation after brief discussion; the committee vote was 7-3-4 in favor of do not pass.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326867,"Committee approves amendment defining antisemitism in K–12 standards review; bill advances",1306,2057000,3363000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb&start=2057&end=3363","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb/thumbnail_2057000.jpg","/articles/6326867/North-Dakota/Committee-approves-amendment-defining-antisemitism-in-K12-standards-review-bill-advances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326867-6f7d479dd4f4107573b5e25b1fd93cb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148157&Signature=SVUHRapC9UWybb~Ib8lHI~mJYhipWc-7iThfRAioHSBXERfjML0aF0M~sI66ts2iv3MBO3eoENQZLhHhDfXZqb-sLorAwg4I0pHZ6MUwmQ6QizMnkMHux7k82tXUe0AdvG6vAiw3kKo8m9-jhgPXK6uwjT1RwH0f0cOrfAyLShpcJ-F~uBRn-M1qAHCGhnkRMZa-YoYsEsoBjKLyACxhJNKyG9pVDHImLpnhUk7IBk6oaEzRhnsffvdrePmInC5yHro1fHQ0ISzGIsGB6CglIcTz404Nyt0TUyzf6XFIr8QmKPRlEv~~k4dPbktmGQN8aiUejy09wT0aLNdB9bm37w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee on Tuesday adopted amendments to House Bill 15-27 that add a working definition of antisemitism and require review of state K–12 history standards. After debate about whether such curriculum language belongs in Century Code or in the standards themselves, the committee voted to advance the bill as amended.

Representative Mackey originally presented HB15-27 and accepted an amendment from the North Dakota Council for Educational Leaders (NDCEL) that focused on standards review language. Representative Haug asked to add a specific definition of antisemitism from Representative Mackey’s original draft. That definition references the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition adopted on May 26, 2016, and includes “contemporary examples of antisemitism” and language incorporated by presidential executive order 13899 (published Dec. 11, 2019).

Opponents and some committee members raised concerns about putting curriculum definitions into Century Code rather than leaving them for the standards-review process, which is more flexible and typically costly to update. Representative Longmire argued standards belong in the standards-setting process rather than statute because Century Code changes require legislative action. Supporters said the Holocaust is already taught across districts and that the amendments would clarify how contemporary manifestations are addressed in standards.

The committee approved the NDCEL amendment and a subsequent amendment to add the IHRA working definition language. Roll calls recorded multiple amendment votes (one reported 10-1-3) and the final due-pass vote on HB15-27 as amended twice carried 8 yes, 3 no, 3 absent. The committee moved the bill forward to the next stage.","The House Education Committee adopted two amendments to House Bill 15-27 that add a working definition of antisemitism tied to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and incorporate the matter into the next standards review; the bill was recommended for passage as amended.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326872,"House panel advances bill requiring cardiac emergency plans, brief CPR training in schools",578,1161000,1739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb&start=1161&end=1739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb/thumbnail_1161000.jpg","/articles/6326872/North-Dakota/House-panel-advances-bill-requiring-cardiac-emergency-plans-brief-CPR-training-in-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326872-b039f6b4b7a07b557d3ceaedc2dd42cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148157&Signature=nzNaGXX7HR8yO7ID5phxhgD7CKu2emO97m~w2g3YuEHiqz5MPpNft0pEcRN85UQf9V9EatBYmnNi8~4-ZgrbdyvoNfUfBup1OYBz267PPyxwH3-fgSyOEMkAr4Hllhoi~7K-O10LyLucN1yp7ihquA8-8i0AjG3IeHcJXQ1aOIxMUfaRSRcdIeFINB10fKSOKqTWohkXbQkkD5Tg9V0EVPyHDrpVs4BOtS70bXzOpBL~yDGjp71-JX4ZxHvF48BHyTd17qLdz6XsLGMjKXHUuRix6RgA7SMEjpiM81Exprc~v85c61dCO~sFrbjU2PCmccgLJqM-8Zoe22QSZ3yDVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee voted to advance House Bill 13-63 as amended after adopting an amendment that requires school districts to maintain a cardiac emergency response plan and provide short defibrillator awareness training for appropriate staff.

Representative Schreiberbeck introduced the amendment and said it keeps an emergency plan requirement and some training while trimming other language. Committee members described the proposal as aligning with practices in many districts where automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are already located in gyms and commons areas and staff—licensed coaches, athletic trainers and some health teachers—are trained to respond.

Representative Morton said the training is often short ‘‘like a 10-minute’’ demonstration focusing on awareness of the AED location and how to use it. Representative Hanger (spelled in transcript Hanger/Haddlstead) questioned whether development of a regional response template should be a DPI responsibility; the committee considered language that would assign plan development to the Department of Health and Human Services in cooperation with the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The committee adopted the amendment (recorded roll 10-0-4) and then voted to recommend a due pass for HB13-63 as amended (committee reported the final vote as 10-0-4). The committee moved the bill to the consent agenda.","The House Education Committee approved amendments and recommended a due pass for House Bill 13-63, which as amended requires schools to maintain cardiac emergency plans and provide brief defibrillator awareness training to appropriate school personnel.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326877,"House panel rejects bills changing school counselor rules, psych-evaluation proposal",388,552000,940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb&start=552&end=940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323620-8e13c77c06eb6807f894a7dd85cb6efb/thumbnail_552000.jpg","/articles/6326877/North-Dakota/House-panel-rejects-bills-changing-school-counselor-rules-psych-evaluation-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326877-d7e26e31eb9abe0cae2251ae0dd6951d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148157&Signature=R0hJcI3kd2nR48Uoq43cYKATbySjYLBXpyzTBFRIPGC-xMlbYglQHIlbNlVfg2iHkmdl8lUloYCw01cayYihck0QzNnfQ87Yug1H0Ui6wH3Csx-78BBAOgfoaSgRqMPfXm0rKKM11uLi1aW2ibOGbvvd6FtSLiMvio329EXFxk04PQbbp7cLzMC6ynVzzZbvt7~s5~v~oXK23FmcS84qPs-ZZBh2rz9Hu15RAap4pAJYbnNU0GP2GWHmDmPnNxF1ekIj5bzlvuzwqtf9Uyb-quSCGsCBK30EUKbd35-enQ56RJaVEfQ79Rl5SgW0frnGwtyOtT2bDsHloEmLaid7Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Dakota House Education Committee voted to recommend do not pass on House Bill 1449, which concerns counselor staffing, and House Bill 1490, which would have required periodic psychological evaluations of counselors.

Committee chairman Heiner called the roll and opened discussion on HB1449, which supporters said was intended to help districts meet a 1:300 counselor-to-student ratio. Representative Justin Jonas explained the bill’s origin: it was brought by the North Dakota Council for Educational Leaders to help school districts reach the 1:300 target and avoid notice from the Department of Public Instruction that a district is not meeting the requirement. Jonas said some districts and West Fargo are losing counselors to private-sector jobs and that the bill’s premise was to help districts recruit and retain counselors.

The proposal drew concerns about vague language that would require districts to “make a reasonable effort” to recruit counselors and whether that change would weaken enforcement. Representative Hauck moved the do-not-pass recommendation on HB1449 “on the information that the DPI and the schools are, as long as they’re actively working on it,” and Representative Hager seconded. Hauck said he favored leaving the law as written because there are currently no statutory consequences for missing the ratio and DPI’s current notifications suffice. Representative Hager added that the bill’s changes risked creating ambiguity about what constitutes a reasonable effort and that the current approach generally works.

The committee called the roll on the do-not-pass motion for HB1449. Chairman Heiner, Vice Chair Schreiberbeck, Representatives Hager, Huddleston, Hauck, Jonas, Longmire, Mackie, Martin and Osowski voted yes; the committee announced the motion prevailed (tally reported as 10 yes, 0 no, 4 absent).

The committee then took up HB1490, the companion measure addressing the psych-evaluation requirement. Representative Schreiberbeck moved a do-not-pass on HB1490; the motion was seconded by Representative Haddleston. Committee members questioned whether the bill unfairly singled out counselors rather than addressing misconduct by any school employee. One member who formerly worked as a speech and language pathologist said she believed the central problem was that school boards sometimes failed to act when informed of concerns, not the profession of counseling itself. Representative Hager noted that licensure renewal includes disclosures and background checks, and she and others raised questions about the cost, content and preventive value of required psychological exams.

The committee voted to recommend do not pass on HB1490; the motion carried with the committee reporting the roll as 10 yes, 0 no, 4 absent.

Both bills will not advance from the committee on the committee’s recommendation.","The North Dakota House Education Committee voted to recommend 'do not pass' on two bills that would have altered school counselor staffing and required periodic psychological evaluations, citing existing DPI oversight and questions about scope and cost.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears hours-long debate on bill to centralize funds for vacant higher-ed positions

Committee recommends do not pass on school board observer bill

Committee approves amendment defining antisemitism in K–12 standards review; bill advances

House panel advances bill requiring cardiac emergency plans, brief CPR training in schools

House panel rejects bills changing school counselor rules, psych-evaluation proposal