North Dakota House Kills Final Education Savings Account Bill of Session

(Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(By: Michael Achterling and Amy Dalrymple. North Dakota Monitor) – The North Dakota House rejected an Education Savings Account bill after the governor vetoed a similar bill.

House members voted 78-14 against Senate Bill 2400, which sought to provide private school vouchers plus Education Savings Accounts for public school and homeschooled students.

In vetoing House Bill 1540, which only benefited private school students, Gov. Kelly Armstrong urged lawmakers to move the competing proposal forward.

But the $110 million price tag to the Senate bill is likely why many opposed it, said House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson.

Lefor, who supported the bill, said he doesn’t see a path for an Education Savings Account proposal to come back this session.

“I’m a strong advocate for school choice, and I will continue to be,” Lefor said.