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HB 1269

AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 54-44.4-02 and 54-44.6-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to procurement exemptions and an exemption from forms management requirements for the North Dakota center for distance education.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Cindy Schreiber-Beck

HB 1269 exempts the North Dakota Center for Distance Education from OMB procurement rules and forms management, speeding virtual K–12 ed‑tech contracts.

Filed with Secretary Of State 04/03
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Bill Summary · HB 1269

Summary — HB 1269 (North Dakota)

Title: An act to amend and reenact sections 54‑44.4‑02 and 54‑44.6‑02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to procurement exemptions and an exemption from forms management requirements for the North Dakota center for distance education

Purpose

HB 1269 creates administrative exemptions for the North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE). The bill (1) adds the Center’s purchases for virtual K–12 instruction to the list of procurements exempt from the centralized procurement rules overseen by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and (2) exempts the Center from the State’s forms‑management requirements under Chapter 54‑44.6.

Key provisions

  • Amends NDCC § 54‑44.4‑02 (Office of Management and Budget purchasing services):
    • Adds a new procurement exemption for “contracts by the North Dakota center for distance education for educational content, educational technology tools, and related services for virtual delivery of education to students in kindergarten through grade twelve.” These purchases are removed from the routine centralized procurement processes otherwise required under the chapter.
  • Amends NDCC § 54‑44.6‑02 (definitions for forms management):
    • Revises the definition of “agency” to explicitly exclude the North Dakota Center for Distance Education (so the Center will not be treated as an “agency” subject to chapter 54‑44.6).
  • Creates a new section in chapter 15‑19:
    • Explicitly states the North Dakota Center for Distance Education is exempt from the forms‑management requirements under chapter 54‑44.6.

Who is affected

  • North Dakota Center for Distance Education: gains greater administrative flexibility to acquire educational technology, digital content, and services for virtual K–12 instruction without OMB centralized procurement procedures or state forms‑management obligations.
  • Vendors and contractors of educational content and ed‑tech: may interface directly with NDCDE under procurement terms set by the Center rather than through OMB‑managed processes.
  • Office of Management and Budget and other oversight bodies: will have reduced procedural oversight in respect to the Center’s specified procurements and forms.
  • Students and school districts served by the NDCDE: may experience operational effects (e.g., faster adoption of technology or different contracting arrangements) depending on how the Center uses the exemption.

Procedural status & timeline

  • Introduced: November 13, 2024.
  • Legislative actions (per provided record): advanced through committee and floor action; read and passed by both chambers (House vote recorded 89–0; Senate vote recorded 46–1). Read 3rd time and passed May 6, 2025.
  • Status noted in provided metadata: filed with Secretary of State on April 3, 2025.

Potential impacts & considerations

  • Administrative benefits: faster, more flexible contracting for ed‑tech and digital content tailored to virtual instruction.
  • Oversight and transparency tradeoffs: exemptions reduce centralized procurement and forms controls, which can speed implementation but can also lessen competitive procurement safeguards and standard reporting.
  • Fiscal impact: no state fiscal note was included in the materials specific to North Dakota; impacts likely depend on how the Center’s procurement practices change (e.g., contract size, frequency, and whether volume purchasing is used).

For precise statutory language and implementation details, see the enrolled bill amending NDCC §§ 54‑44.4‑02 and 54‑44.6‑02 and the new section added to chapter 15‑19.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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