Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto of a bill that appropriates funding from the state's general budget to help families pay for private school or private classes in North Dakota, effective July 1, 2026.

Highlights:

• Establishes an education savings account program to help families pay for private schools or private classes for their children in North Dakota (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the Bank of North Dakota to deposit 40% of the state’s per-student funding amount into each student’s education savings account in the 2026-27 school year, which would eventually increase to 80% in the 2027-28 school year (Sec. 1). 

• Requires that the department give priority access to the education savings account program to the sibling of a student already enrolled in the program (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits parents from using the fund to enroll their eligible student in public school or from homeschooling their student (Sec. 1). 

• Requires a parent participating in the program to use the funds for the following expenses (Sec. 1):

• Tuition and fees from the school;

• Textbooks;

• Private tutoring;

• Purchase of curriculum;

• Tuition and fees for nonpublic online learning programs;

• Fees for examinations related to college admission;

• Computer software or technology related to the student’s educational needs; or

• Reasonable transportation fees. 

• Appropriates $40 million from the state’s general fund in the state treasury to the Bank of North Dakota to fund the education savings account program (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect on July 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Kelly Armstrong

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that appropriates funding from the state's general budget to help families pay for private school or private classes in North Dakota, effective July 1, 2026.

Highlights:

• Establishes an education savings account program to help families pay for private schools or private classes for their children in North Dakota (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the Bank of North Dakota to deposit 40% of the state’s per-student funding amount into each student’s education savings account in the 2026-27 school year, which would eventually increase to 80% in the 2027-28 school year (Sec. 1). 

• Requires that the department give priority access to the education savings account program to the sibling of a student already enrolled in the program (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits parents from using the fund to enroll their eligible student in public school or from homeschooling their student (Sec. 1). 

• Requires a parent participating in the program to use the funds for the following expenses (Sec. 1):

• Tuition and fees from the school;

• Textbooks;

• Private tutoring;

• Purchase of curriculum;

• Tuition and fees for nonpublic online learning programs;

• Fees for examinations related to college admission;

• Computer software or technology related to the student’s educational needs; or

• Reasonable transportation fees. 

• Appropriates $40 million from the state’s general fund in the state treasury to the Bank of North Dakota to fund the education savings account program (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect on July 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that appropriates funding from the state's general budget to help families pay for private school or private classes in North Dakota, effective July 1, 2026.

Highlights:

• Establishes an education savings account program to help families pay for private schools or private classes for their children in North Dakota (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the Bank of North Dakota to deposit 40% of the state’s per-student funding amount into each student’s education savings account in the 2026-27 school year, which would eventually increase to 80% in the 2027-28 school year (Sec. 1). 

• Requires that the department give priority access to the education savings account program to the sibling of a student already enrolled in the program (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits parents from using the fund to enroll their eligible student in public school or from homeschooling their student (Sec. 1). 

• Requires a parent participating in the program to use the funds for the following expenses (Sec. 1):

• Tuition and fees from the school;

• Textbooks;

• Private tutoring;

• Purchase of curriculum;

• Tuition and fees for nonpublic online learning programs;

• Fees for examinations related to college admission;

• Computer software or technology related to the student’s educational needs; or

• Reasonable transportation fees. 

• Appropriates $40 million from the state’s general fund in the state treasury to the Bank of North Dakota to fund the education savings account program (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect on July 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates funding from the state's general budget to help families pay for private school or private classes in North Dakota, effective July 1, 2026.

Highlights:

• Establishes an education savings account program to help families pay for private schools or private classes for their children in North Dakota (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the Bank of North Dakota to deposit 40% of the state’s per-student funding amount into each student’s education savings account in the 2026-27 school year, which would eventually increase to 80% in the 2027-28 school year (Sec. 1). 

• Requires that the department give priority access to the education savings account program to the sibling of a student already enrolled in the program (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits parents from using the fund to enroll their eligible student in public school or from homeschooling their student (Sec. 1). 

• Requires a parent participating in the program to use the funds for the following expenses (Sec. 1):

• Tuition and fees from the school;

• Textbooks;

• Private tutoring;

• Purchase of curriculum;

• Tuition and fees for nonpublic online learning programs;

• Fees for examinations related to college admission;

• Computer software or technology related to the student’s educational needs; or

• Reasonable transportation fees. 

• Appropriates $40 million from the state’s general fund in the state treasury to the Bank of North Dakota to fund the education savings account program (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect on July 1, 2026 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text