Criminal Procedure - As introduced, exempts an applicant seeking to restore the applicant's rights of citizenship from having to pay for the cost of the application if a court orders otherwise. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 8; Title 39 and Title 40.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Ron Travis

HB 1251 bans all K-12 school extracurriculars on designated family holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter) statewide.

P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

#criminalprocedure

Purpose / intent

To amend North Dakota Century Code by creating a new statutory section (chapter 15.1‑06) that designates certain days as "family days" and prohibits schools from holding extracurricular activities on those days. The stated intent is to reserve key holiday dates for family observance by restricting school-run practices, games, performances, competitions, meetings, and similar events.

Key provisions

Adds a new section titled (in the bill) "Family days - Holidays - Extracurricular activities prohibited."

Prohibits a school from holding any extracurricular activity — including practices, games, performances, competitions, meetings, or events, whether required or optional — on a “family day.”

Defines "family day" to include:

New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
The anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (July 4)
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Easter Sunday (These are tied to the statutory definitions in NDCC § 1‑03‑01 for the listed holidays.)

The prohibition applies to all extracurriculars run by a school; the bill text contains no listed exceptions or specified exemptions.

Who would be affected

Public (and likely nonpublic) K–12 schools and school districts that schedule extracurricular activities.

Students, coaches, activity directors, performing arts groups, athletic associations, parent volunteers, officials, and vendors involved in school extracurricular programming.

Calendaring and scheduling bodies (school boards, athletic conferences, tournament organizers) that set events and championships.

Families who may experience fewer holiday conflicts (intended benefit) or altered event schedules (operational impact).

Implementation, enforcement, and fiscal impact

The bill creates a new statutory prohibition but does not specify enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or remedies for violations within the text provided.

No effective date or implementation timeline is specified in the bill language excerpt; it would become effective under normal statutory processes if enacted.

Fiscal effects are not detailed in the bill text; impacts would primarily be administrative (re‑scheduling events, potential conflict with existing conference/tournament calendars) and could impose operational costs for schools and organizers to rearrange activities.

Legislative history (brief)

Filed: November 12, 2024.

Created as a new section to NDCC chapter 15.1‑06.

Reached second reading but failed to pass (yeas 30, nays 61). (Additional committee/house actions recorded in the legislative file prior to failure.)

If enacted, HB 1251 would require schools statewide to avoid scheduling extracurricular activities on a short, specific list of major holidays, shifting planning burden to other dates and event organizers.

Bill