Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateNorth DakotaIntroduced
HB 1621: 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.
Legislative Management
HB 1621 status: Introduced — Filed with Secretary Of State 01/23 (updated Jan 28, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
50OUT OF 100
Score:50/100 civic fit — mixed
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 50/100
Constitutionality90%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion50%
Bill summary
What changes
HB 1621 mandates the administration of the presidential physical fitness test in all North Dakota K-12 physical education courses.
Who is affected
All K-12 students, physical education instructors, and school districts in North Dakota.
Requirements and enforcement
Schools must incorporate the test into their physical education curriculum; the bill mentions that exceptions will be provided.
Costs and funding
Not stated in the available source; potential costs for training and testing materials are unknown.
When it takes effect
Provides for an effective date.
Potential benefits
Provides a standardized metric for physical fitness across the state school system.
Risks and tradeoffs
Potential for body image issues, bullying, and the adequacy of exceptions for students with disabilities.
What is still unknown
The criteria for the provided exceptions and the specific logistics for test administration remain unclear.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Society
Mixed / Neutral
50%
Benefits
- Standardizes physical fitness benchmarks for students
- Provides consistent data on student health levels
- Encourages school-wide physical activity initiatives
Risks
- Potential for body shaming in the classroom
- Increased anxiety for students with lower physical performance
- Risk of social exclusion or bullying related to test results
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
Mixed / Neutral
50%
Benefits
- Establishes a statewide health tracking metric
- Encourages regular physical activity during school hours
- Helps identify physical health deficiencies early
Risks
- One-size-fits-all testing may ignore individual student needs
- Lack of emphasis on holistic mental health in fitness evaluation
- Potential stress from public performance-based testing
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Risk of negative psychological impact and body image issues from standardized physical testing
Analysis scope
Source provided is a summary and lacks full bill text
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedCurrent
- CommitteeUpcoming
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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