25.1112.02001
Title.03000
Adopted by the Senate Education
Committee
Sixty-ninth
April 2, 2025
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives O'Brien, Pyle, Schreiber-Beck, Swiontek
Senator Axtman
A BILL for an Act to provide for a legislative management study regarding the establishment of a
government spending database; and to provide an appropriation.for an Act to create and enact
a new section to chapter 54-44.4 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the duties of the
superintendent of public instruction and the establishment of a government spending database;
to provide an appropriation; and to provide an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT STUDY - GOVERNMENT SPENDING
DATABASE. During the 2025-26 interim, the legislative management shall consider studying
the feasibility of the establishment of a government spending database. The study must include:
1. A review of the training services necessary for school board members,
superintendents, principals, and business managers regarding the government
spending database, including best practices, personnel management, financial
operations, facility planning, and regulatory compliance.
2. The feasibility of establishing a database that compiles the following information for
each expenditure:
a. The amount paid.
b. The payment date.
c. The recipient name.
d. The paying entity.
e. The employee position, if for a personnel payment.
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ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 1329
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
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f. For a school district, with respect to educational materials:
(1) A description of curriculum.
(2) The publisher and author of a textbook.
(3) A description of software specifications and developer identification.
g. A standardized categorization using United States census bureau codes for state
and local transactions and nationally recognized standardized codes for school
districts and institutions of higher education.
3. The feasibility of establishing a database capable of providing:
a. Search capabilities.
b. Data aggregation tools.
c. Download options in common formats.
d. Anonymous salary and benefit information.
e. Regular updates of all information.
The legislative management shall report its findings and recommendations, together with any
legislation necessary to implement the recommendations, to the seventieth legislative assembly.
SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION - LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - CONSULTANTS FOR
INTERIM STUDY - GOVERNMENT SPENDING DATABASE STUDY - ONE-TIME FUNDING.
There is appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise
appropriated, the sum of $97,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to the
legislative council for the purpose of contracting with a consultant to assist in conducting a study
regarding the feasibility of a government spending database, for the biennium beginning July 1,
2025, and ending June 30, 2027. The funding provided in this section is considered a one-time
funding item.
SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 54-44.4 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
and enacted as follows:
Government spending database - Requirements - Superintendent of public
instruction.
1. As used in this section, "submitting party" means:
a. A budget unit under section 54 - 44.1 - 04;
b. A political subdivision;
c. A school district; and
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d. An institution under the control of the state board of higher education.
2. The superintendent of public instruction shall collect data from submitting parties and
establish and maintain a government spending database that is accessible without
cost through the internet and contains detailed expenditure data collected from
submitting parties. The data must be updated at least monthly.
3. The database must include for each expenditure:
a. The amount paid.
b. The payment date.
c. The recipient name.
d. The paying entity.
e. The employee position, if for a personnel payment.
f. For a school district, with respect to educational materials:
(1) A description of curriculum.
(2) The publisher and author of a textbook.
(3) A description of software specifications and developer identification.
g. A standardized categorization using United States census bureau codes for state
and local transactions and nationally recognized standardized codes for school
districts and institutions of higher education.
4. The database must provide:
a. Search capabilities.
b. Data aggregation tools.
c. Download options in common formats.
d. Anonymous salary and benefit information.
e. Regular updates of all information.
5. A submitting party shall provide the required data as directed, ensure the accuracy of
the data, and use existing resources for compliance with the requirements of this
section.
SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION -
GOVERNMENT SPENDING DATABASE - ONE-TIME FUNDING. There is appropriated out of
any moneys in the general fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of
$500,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to the department of public instruction
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for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a government spending database, for the
biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027. The funding provided in this
section is considered a one time funding item.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1 of this Act becomes effective July 1, 2026.
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