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.