Latest news with #HouseBill1540
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Votes fail to overturn vetoes of library bill, private school funding
Sen. Keith Boehm, R-Mandan, testifies in favor of a bill to address explicit content from school and public libraries during a committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) Two vetoes by Gov. Kelly Armstrong stood up to challenges in the North Dakota Legislature on Friday. Armstrong vetoed Senate Bill 2307, a library obscenity bill, and House Bill 1540, that would have used taxpayer dollars to support private school tuition vouchers. A two-thirds majority was needed to override the vetoes. The library bill got fewer votes in the Senate on Friday than it had when the bill passed, despite the pleas of bill sponsor Sen. Keith Boehm, R-Mandan, and other supporters. Armstrong vetoed the private school funding but urged lawmakers to advance a broader school Education Savings Account bill. But that bill, Senate Bill 2400, failed in a House vote late Thursday. The tuition vouchers bill passed the House 49-43 on Monday. Friday's attempt to override the veto in the House failed 48-45. Lawmakers began the legislative session with five Education Savings Account bills, but none of the proposals remain under consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Armstrong vetoes North Dakota private school voucher bill, but signals support for competing bill
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong presents to lawmakers at the Capitol on Jan. 15, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Wednesday vetoed a bill to use public tax dollars for private school tuition but signaled support for a separate Education Savings Account bill still under consideration. House Bill 1540 would have established Education Savings Accounts for private school students. Armstrong said in a statement that he supports school choice but said the bill 'falls far short of truly expanding choice as it only impacts one sector of our student population.' The statement noted that of North Dakota's 168 school districts, only 19 have private schools, with most in larger communities. 'House Bill 1540 fails to deliver the school choice North Dakota needs, especially in rural areas where nonpublic school options are few and far between,' Armstrong said in the statement. North Dakota lawmakers advance private school voucher bill The bill passed the House 49-43 on Monday. It had previously passed the Senate 27-20. Lawmakers would need 63 votes in the House and 32 votes in the Senate to override the veto. The cost to the state would have depended on how many families used the vouchers but was estimated at about $20 million in the first year. A competing bill, Senate Bill 2400, would allow public dollars to be used for private school tuition, but also would establish Education Savings Accounts for public school and homeschooled students. Armstrong in his veto message urged lawmakers to use Senate Bill 2400 to combine the best parts of both bills. 'Passing a voucher bill that caters to only a small segment of North Dakota's student population all but guarantees a voter referendum and threatens to derail the prospect of good school choice policy for years to come,' he wrote. Armstrong on Monday signed a bill that could lead to public charter schools in North Dakota. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HB 1540 veto message signed
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Dakota lawmakers advance private school voucher bill
House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, speaks on the House floor on Feb. 25, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota educational options are set to expand as House lawmakers advanced a private school voucher bill Monday and the governor signed a bill establishing public charter schools. The House in a 49-43 vote agreed to changes made by the Senate to House Bill 1540, which establishes Education Savings Accounts for private school students. The bill will now go to Gov. Kelly Armstrong's desk for his signature or veto. If signed into law, the new private school vouchers would be available for the 2026-27 school year. Armstrong also signed a bill Monday that establishes the framework to implement public charter schools in North Dakota. 'Expanding school choice is a win-win for North Dakota families and for our state's workforce and long-term success,' Armstrong said in a statement. 'The public charter schools authorized by this bill can drive innovation, improve student outcomes and increase parent satisfaction.' House passes bill authorizing charter schools in North Dakota Lawmakers have been fairly split on bills related to Education Savings Accounts. House Bill 1540, which passed the Senate last week on a 27-20 vote, only benefits families with children attending private school. As amended, the bill provides private school vouchers in an amount that varies depending on household income. Students from families in the lowest income category could receive about $4,000 per year, while students from the highest income category could receive a little over $1,000 per year. The bill is estimated to cost about $20 million in the first year, though the exact amount will depend on how many students use the vouchers. The state projects that about 8,000 students will attend North Dakota private schools in 2026-27, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill. House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, who voted in favor of the bill, said it allows parents to shape the educational futures of their children. North Dakota Senate passes Education Savings Accounts for private school students 'Beyond academics, House Bill 1540 ensures equality,' Lefor said. 'Parents know their children best. It's not the government, but families who should have the final say in their children's education.' Rep. Liz Conmy, D-Fargo, voted against the bill and told lawmakers the North Dakota Constitution prohibits the use of public school tax dollars to support a sectarian school. 'We are obligated, constitutionally, to fund and strengthen public schools and specifically directed to not subsidize private education,' Conmy said. 'We don't get to pick and choose what part of the constitution we want to go with or not.' A competing Senate Education Savings Account bill, Senate Bill 2400, proposed to benefit public school and homeschooled students in addition to private school students. It passed the Senate but received a do-not-pass recommendation by the House Education Committee in March. The bill has not been forwarded for a full chamber vote. Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, chief sponsor of the Senate bill, prepared an amendment to her Education Savings Account bill Monday for a House Education Committee hearing. She sought to introduce an amendment to remove the private school portion of her bill and advance an Education Savings Account of $500 for educational expenses for public school and homeschooled students. However, committee members denied a motion to reconsider the bill. It will advance to full chamber. After the committee hearing, Axtman said the bill that passed the House is leaving out a 'key component' of school choice – public school students. She said she also worries about rural students with limited choices because new charter schools probably won't make their way into deeply rural areas. 'I think we are missing a huge segment of choice for those students,' Axtman said. 'I've always from day one been a supporter of a universal program that is truly universal so I'm disappointed we couldn't get there.' Armstrong recommended $44.3 million in his preliminary budget in January for a potential Education Savings Account program that would cover public, private and homeschooled students. North Dakota United, a union representing public school teachers and other state employees, opposes Education Savings Accounts. Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, said the private school vouchers will only benefit a small selection of North Dakota students. 'I think the governor is going to look long and hard at it and, ultimately, the voters will,' Archuleta said. 'We don't believe it provides school choice. We believe that it's the school's choice to educate whom they choose to educate in that particular bill, so we weren't in favor of that bill and still aren't.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Dakota Senate passes Education Savings Accounts for private school students
Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, speaks on the Senate floor on April 17, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) The North Dakota Senate approved a bill Thursday establishing Education Savings Accounts for private school students, but details are likely to be worked out by a conference committee. The Senate voted 27-20 in favor of an amended version of House Bill 1540, which would provide vouchers for families to use for private school tuition or other qualifying education expenses. The accounts would not be available to public school or homeschooled students. The amount each family could receive varies based on household income. Students from families in the lowest income category could receive about $4,000 per year, while students from the highest income category could receive a little over $1,000 per year. Families with high incomes would qualify for vouchers in the version of the bill senators advanced. A previous version of the bill limited the vouchers to families who fall within 400% of the federal poverty level, which is an annual income of $128,600 for a family of four. The Education Saving Accounts would be available for students for the 2026-27 school year. Sen. Michelle Axtman, R-Bismarck, who introduced the amendment, estimated the program would cost about $20 million per school year. The exact cost to the state would depend on how many students use the accounts. Bills look to expand North Dakota student opportunities through savings accounts Sen. Mike Wobbema, R-Valley City, was among those who spoke in favor of Education Savings Accounts. 'We need to recognize that taxpayer funds need to be prioritized for use in educating taxpayers' children,' Wobbema said. He argued that Education Savings Accounts could save the state money over time, if public school students switch to private schools, reducing how much the state spends on per-pupil payments to public schools. Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, voted against the bill. She said there are no private schools in her district, so the bill wouldn't be used by her constituents. 'If we're going to do school choice, it's got to be for all kids,' Myrdal said. 'I can't in true conscience stand here today to vote for a vehicle that doesn't give any power to the parents in my district.' Axtman is the chief sponsor of a competing Education Savings Account bill, Senate Bill 2400, which is still under consideration by the House Education Committee. The key difference in that bill is dollars could be used for educational expenses for public school or homeschooled students in addition to private school students. Axtman voted in favor of the Senate version, but said she's still hopeful for a more universal policy. 'My goal is still a very comprehensive ESA that affects, truly, all students in North Dakota,' she said. North Dakota United, a union representing educators and public sector employees, is among those who oppose the Education Savings Account bills. 'This bill, 1540, is all about private schools, just public money given right to the private schools,' said Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United. The bill is expected to head to a conference committee made up of three lawmakers from each legislative chamber. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Dakota Catholic bishops urge parishioners to advocate for Education Savings Accounts
The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, part of the Catholic Diocese of Bismarck, sits on Raymond Street on Sept. 18, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) Bishops from the Catholic dioceses of Bismarck and Fargo signed a joint letter Sunday urging parishioners across the state to contact their legislators and advocate for Education Savings Accounts. Senate Bill 2400 and House Bill 1540 both passed their respective chambers during the first half of the legislative session and would allocate state tax dollars to student Education Savings Accounts that could be spent on a variety of services, including paying tuition for private schools. The letter, signed by Bishop David Kagan of Bismarck and Bishop John Folda of Fargo, states the church teaches that parents are the primary educators for their children and they should have the freedom and resources to choose the best educational setting for their kids. 'They do not divert money from public schools, do not hurt rural schools and would be a great help to many families across the state of North Dakota,' the letter stated. Bills look to expand North Dakota student opportunities through savings accounts The letter was read from the pulpit at Catholic churches across the state, said David Tamisiea, executive director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference. 'It should've been read by everybody,' Tamisiea said. He said it is the job of bishops as teachers of the faith to educate the faithful. 'People of faith have a voice to be heard in the public sphere,' Tamisiea said. 'It's OK for our faith leaders to encourage the people to exercise that voice and that's what they are doing.' He also said public-private partnerships are a staple of state government in North Dakota and the education system should not be any different. 'There are all kinds of public-private partnerships where we use public funds to pay private organizations to carry out important tasks,' Tamisiea said. The Catholic dioceses of Fargo and Bismarck encompass about 220 churches across North Dakota, according to their websites. The state also has more than 35 private Catholic schools, including pre-K. Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, which represents public school educators and opposes the bills, said the call to action by the Catholic diocese was not unexpected. 'What we are preparing for is to defeat these bills in each of the two chambers,' Archuleta said. 'We've never been a fan of using public dollars to support private school tuition and we're not going to start now.' He added North Dakota United conducted polling in December that showed 68% of respondents were somewhat or strongly opposed to using tax dollars to pay for private tuition. Both bills are scheduled for committee work on Tuesday in the Senate and House Education Committees, which are expected to make recommendations in the coming days. bishop letter SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
