BISMARCK, North Dakota – A series of bills introduced in the North Dakota House are gaining national attention. They have the potential to impact the Pagan and polytheist community not only within the state but also across the US should the spirit of these might be replicated elsewhere creating a residing tide of Christian Nationalist bills in other jurisdictions.
Rep. Jeff Hoverson of Minot introduced House Bill 1145, which would mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms across public schools and colleges in North Dakota. During a House Judiciary hearing on January 15, 2025, supporters and opponents presented testimony on the bill. The bill states “The state board of higher education shall display the ten commandments in each classroom on the campus of each state educational institution under its control and administration.” It would affect both primary, secondary, and post-secondary educational institutions.
A representative from the North Dakota School Boards Association contended that the legislation violates the First Amendment’s establishment clause and could expose the state to legal challenges.
“These students are, by definition, a captive audience. Therefore, the concern about religious coercion—since attendance is legally required—is of utmost importance,” said Cody Schuler of the North Dakota ACLU.
Rep. Hoverson defended the bill, asserting that the Ten Commandments serve as a foundation for freedom. “That’s why people want to move here—because of the freedom largely influenced by the Ten Commandments. Even atheists can appreciate them because they create a society where people of all beliefs—atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians—can coexist,” Hoverson said. “A moral code that discourages theft, gossip, and envy benefits everyone. You can’t find a better document for freedom.”
A spokesperson for the North Dakota University System provided neutral testimony, acknowledging that students and faculty hold diverse beliefs. He also raised logistical concerns, noting that with over 2,000 college classrooms in the state, it remains unclear who would fund the installation of the displays.
A second bill on intelligent design will have a hearing this afternoon, Wednesday, Feb. 12. The bill would require K-12 schools to teach “intelligent design”—the belief that an intelligent entity designed the universe and created all life—as part of science education.
Senate Bill 2355 directs the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to develop materials and training to present intelligent design as “a viable scientific theory for the creation of all life forms” within the state’s science content standards.
Sen. Michael Dwyer, R-Bismarck, who introduced the bill, said he has worked with DPI to propose amendments. Initially, the bill aimed to implement the change in August 2027, but after discussions, the standard would instead be revised when the department next updates the curriculum—a date that has not yet been determined. DPI has indicated it will not testify on the bill.
Despite potential amendments, Dwyer confirmed that the requirement to teach intelligent design in science classes remains intact. The updated version of the bill has not yet been made publicly available and will be presented during the Senate Education hearing on Wednesday.
The bill’s sponsors include House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, and Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot, both of whom cited their Christian faith as a reason for supporting the measure.
“I believe that God created the universe and that there needs to be something in our instruction that relays that,” Lefor said. “I am a firm believer that the further we get away from God, the more difficulties our country is going to have.”
Both Lefor and Hogue argued that intelligent design should be included not just in science education but across multiple school subjects.
“I am in full support of Dwyer’s legislation,” Hogue said, echoing Lefor’s remarks.
There is no scientific evidence supporting intelligent design.
Previous litigations such as Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, in which a federal judge ruled that mandating intelligent design in public schools violates the U.S. Constitution.
No state requires the inclusion of intelligent design in science curricula, though some states permit classroom discussions on the topic.
North Dakota State Capitol [Photo Credit: Farragutful – CCA-SA 4.0]
A third bill, House Concurrent Resolution No 3020, states, calls the citizens of North Dakota to “acknowledge the Kingship of Jesus Christ over all the world so that this
great state may at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace, and harmony.”
The self-justifies the acknowledgment by citing Biblical verses from both the Old and New Testaments, such as “WHEREAS, Christ is named the ruler of Kings on earth and the King of Kings and presented with crown and royal robe (Revelation 1:5, 17:14, 19:12-13, 16).”
The bill will have a hearing on Thursday, February 13, 2025.
The bill was introduced by Representative Nico Rios (R-District 23) who earlier this month in a now-deleted post on X referenced Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Jewish heritage and asked whether the US Central Intelligence Agency might overthrow her. Republican leaders at both the district and state levels denounced Williston Rep. Nico Rios on Monday for a recent antisemitic social media post.
North Dakota Republican Party Chair Sandi Sanford stated Monday that Rios’ post and past behavior fail to meet the party’s standards for legislative integrity. “Rep. Rios must acknowledge the gravity of his actions, put an end to his pattern of unacceptable behavior, and take responsibility for his harmful words and whatever motivated them,” Sanford said.
Nevertheless, many of these lawmakers are supporting HCR 3020. They have also introduced a resolution urging the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) quickly denounced HCR 3020. “No U.S. state or government may dictate religious doctrine to its citizens — much less to the entire world!” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “This resolution is not only unconstitutional but un-American. Our founders explicitly rejected state-imposed religion in favor of a secular government that respects the rights and beliefs of all.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a national nonprofit organization that seeks to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism, cautions that if passed, this resolution would further empower the expanding Christian nationalist movement, which aims to erode the separation between religion and government. It would marginalize non-Christian citizens, including the nearly one-third of Americans who identify as nonreligious, effectively relegating them to second-class status.
“Christian nationalists are no longer hiding their agenda — they’re openly working to rewrite American democracy into a religious state,” adds FFRF Legal Counsel Chris Line. “This is a dangerous precedent, and we must take a stand before these unconstitutional efforts gain more ground.”
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