AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 15.1-21-01 and section 15.1-21-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to requiring the presidential physical fitness test in physical education courses in elementary, middle, and high schools and providing exceptions to the test; and to provide an effective date.
HB1621 amends North Dakota’s K-12 education statutes to require participation in the presidential physical fitness test in physical education courses at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, while authorizing the superintendent of public instruction to set criteria for and exceptions to the test in alignment with federal guidance. The bill also updates the list of required instructional areas for elementary and middle school students to expressly include physical education with the fitness test, and it revises high school graduation requirements to include physical education units that incorporate the test.
For high schools, the bill keeps the existing core graduation framework but adds a specific requirement that one-half unit of physical education be taken each school year, with participation in the presidential physical fitness test, and that once every four years the physical education unit must be a concept-based fitness class focused on assessment, improvement, and maintenance of personal fitness. It also preserves and restates other graduation requirements such as English, math, science, social studies, health, fine arts, foreign or Native American language, career and technical education, and computer science or cybersecurity. The bill continues to allow instruction through multiple delivery methods, including distance learning and postsecondary enrollment, and it maintains exemptions for alternative high schools, alternative programs, and certain requirements at the youth correctional center.
The bill’s impact on state law is to make the presidential physical fitness test a formal component of required physical education instruction in North Dakota schools, while giving the superintendent discretion to define exceptions. It also reinforces existing graduation and curriculum requirements in section 15.1-21-02, including the physical education credit structure and the concept-based fitness class requirement, and it leaves in place rules on fees, transportation for postsecondary courses, and “make available” course access. The effective date is delayed until August 1, 2027.
The overall sentiment appears strongly favorable, as reflected by the overwhelming bipartisan votes in both chambers: 90-2 in the House and 43-3 in the Senate. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate broader opposition or support beyond the vote totals. The narrow number of dissenting votes suggests the bill was generally noncontroversial, though the existence of a few no votes indicates some limited concern.
The main point of contention is likely the mandate itself: requiring a presidential physical fitness test in school physical education programs may raise questions about student ability, accommodations, and how the test should be administered across different ages and abilities. The bill addresses some of that concern by allowing the superintendent to establish criteria and exceptions, but the text does not specify the standards, leaving implementation details to administrative rulemaking and federal guidance.
HB1621 amends North Dakota Century Code sections 15.1-21-01 and 15.1-21-02 to add the presidential physical fitness test to required physical education instruction in elementary, middle, and high schools. It also preserves existing graduation requirements and clarifies that the superintendent of public instruction may set criteria and exceptions for the test. The bill affects public and nonpublic schools, with exemptions for alternative high schools/programs and certain provisions not applying to the youth correctional center; it becomes effective August 1, 2027.
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible controversy, passing the House 90-2 and the Senate 43-3. With no committee transcripts available, the record shows strong legislative approval but only limited dissent, suggesting the measure was generally viewed favorably while still prompting a small amount of opposition or concern.
The likely area of disagreement is the requirement that students participate in the presidential physical fitness test as part of physical education, which could raise concerns about age appropriateness, student fitness levels, disability accommodations, and administrative burden. Supporters appear to favor a standardized fitness benchmark and a return to a familiar school fitness program, while opponents may be concerned about rigid testing requirements; the bill responds by allowing the superintendent to create criteria and exceptions in line with federal guidance.