[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6114646,"mediaKeyId","2742583-600ed129040f5ba8b004bd40e9b88581","parentId",2742583,"title","Committee approves bill to clarify oversight, elections and petition audits for water districts","audioSeconds",2756,"startMs",5388000,"endMs",8144000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2742583-600ed129040f5ba8b004bd40e9b88581&start=5388&end=8144","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2742583-600ed129040f5ba8b004bd40e9b88581/thumbnail_5388000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6114646/North-Dakota/Committee-approves-bill-to-clarify-oversight-elections-and-petition-audits-for-water-districts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114646-5ea22585870a6ebcf60688753b5c4ae8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158860&Signature=dEcNPG2ieFJ0HA4-GLxZgK72T4ONqSL6S-rvM1XL-6zGyldTay3O7GCEYyiheW4smDfBAzUMJ25OJ9JZlH5-kVJ3C4vQB~5NdvdWKkoXEO6ZM9L-HRRDSJkzvbVIc3hzMvjlZS1SJTG~py0BIVVP0ELZZ5GavyYIu6Y9CYZV-1odBzGEeTPaCucwdgAAEkQJ8e5h-hzJvwCcvqN96BTq9p1lBobRQc549zORJnCzFxF-brkx97tCCQaqIUG~5rI9qirK2YC~kYx5waHwKNmx2TcsvGTRrECCThNjGpUCY4O5Jhxi0QOeSNQt7-S1ndXkmbEkWQNDoXkc2~W3RZ7vrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-03-21T00:00:00Z","article","The House Political Subdivisions Committee voted to give a due-pass recommendation to Senate Bill 2,299, a measure that clarifies governance, election procedures and audit authority for water districts organized under chapter 61‑35 of the North Dakota Century Code.

Sponsor Senator Bob Paulson, R‑Minot, said the bill codifies several elements that water districts and their members have identified as unclear, including making water districts subject to the state auditor’s oversight for fiscal audits, setting a petition threshold for triggering a state audit, and clarifying nomination and vacancy procedures for district boards.

Dan Cox, director of audit services in the state auditor’s office, and Auditor Josh Gallagher (testimony identified as Josh Galley in the record) testified that adding water resource districts to the statutory list of political subdivisions would primarily require submission of audit reports for review and would have minimal impact on districts that already obtain audits. Cox said the petition‑audit provision is helpful because water districts cross county boundaries and the bill clarifies how to calculate petition thresholds.

Sponsor Paulson said the bill’s provisions include: adding water districts subject to chapter 61‑35 to the entities audited under N.D.C.C. 54‑10‑14; allowing a petition audit when at least 10% of participating members — or 300 members, whichever is fewer — sign a petition; requiring a participating member seeking election to submit a petition with signatures of 10 participating members at least 45 days before the election; and clarifying that vacancies are filled by appointment until the next annual meeting where members elect a director for the unexpired term.

John Peach, a member of North Prairie Water, described contested local election practices and urged the committee to adopt the bill to standardize access, transparency and ballot procedures. Eric Volk of the North Dakota Rural Water association and Lance Gaby of the North Dakota Farmers Union testified in favor after stakeholder negotiation produced the version before the committee.

Auditor Gallley noted changes to petition-audit language adopted in the prior session and emphasized the auditor’s practice of coordinating with private-sector auditors and avoiding redundant audits that would impose extra cost on local governments.

Representative Bosley moved a due‑pass recommendation; Representative Moshenberger seconded. The clerk reported the vote as 10 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent or not voting. The committee directed that SB 2,299 go to the floor. No recorded opposition speakers appeared at the committee hearing following stakeholder revisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Political Subdivisions Friday, Mar 21, 2025 8:50 AM - 11:07 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The committee recommended a due pass for Senate Bill 2,299 to add certain water districts to the list of political subdivisions subject to state audit, set petition thresholds and clarify election processes; the committee voted 10-0 with three absent and directed the bill toward the floor.","taxTitle","Political Subdivisions, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28896,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6114651,"Hearing held on expanding diagnostic-imaging referral authority for physical therapists",3079,2350000,5429000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2742583-600ed129040f5ba8b004bd40e9b88581&start=2350&end=5429","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2742583-600ed129040f5ba8b004bd40e9b88581/thumbnail_2350000.jpg","/articles/6114651/North-Dakota/Hearing-held-on-expanding-diagnostic-imaging-referral-authority-for-physical-therapists","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114651-d7a83816d7b7485ac5811bd77a036096/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158860&Signature=U4wQ4bRE127cV4s1zS~27FADkG65~ehVX8yHq~KwQ-facZ9tBCckedbKaQBNMQAWzKuJQOZl3Gnci-xAjECq9Y6ZjvZ0sNCYGtt6Q4E8qcjotjhlp-AbUJzENjCLBMqwEe2Gr5psfHMo3F~nUl~1rsIYOGV~PnZNjM6JRUZuQ2RU5qZ5ojH4p6fgZRM8bu7ZS4FfqWZuyrO-OuMazcTP3gfrxdkVTq0KU5tVp8KdP0P8lStooYr3-dK-xPBFNqfnL9lO31UeVM-pb1VdjIadNcW1fPmt1V2tH6w9Qw-7X-ibklI6bKvG1RaJh~IEE5H5ZYIDYEsMv614WHI-8euXBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Political Subdivisions Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 2,273, which would expand referral authority for diagnostic imaging by physical therapists to include MRI and CT scans for those with a clinical doctorate or board‑approved imaging training.

Senator Brad Bechkendahl, R‑Williston, introduced the bill as building on 2021 legislation that allowed doctoral‑level or specially trained physical therapists to order plain‑film radiographs. Proponents — including Mitch Walden, a professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Jamestown, and Scott Brown, director of therapy and rehabilitation at Sanford Health — testified that expanding the referral privilege would reduce treatment delays and improve care coordination, particularly in rural areas.

“Right now physical therapists are the only first contact provider that cannot make the guideline‑based referral for an MRI,” Mitch Walden told the committee, saying the limitation can delay care and add cost when therapists must refer patients back to physicians for advanced imaging.

Supporters noted that roughly a dozen states and territories already allow similar privileges and that doctoral education and required imaging coursework prepare physical therapists to make appropriate imaging referrals. Scott Brown described a case in which timely MRI referral expedited surgical treatment and likely prevented permanent nerve damage in a rural patient.

Opposition materials were presented from the North Dakota Radiological Society, which cited studies suggesting non‑physician ordering can increase imaging utilization and raise costs; the society expressed concerns about increased radiation exposure and repeat exams. Committee members asked witnesses about reimbursement, prior authorization, training and oversight; witnesses said insurers have reimbursed appropriate referrals in other implementations, prior authorization processes already exist, and the North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy would approve board‑level training programs for those without doctoral degrees.

Committee members discussed language in the bill that would permit either a clinical doctorate or completion of a board‑approved medical imaging training program; some members expressed concern that the “or” provision could allow substantially shorter training paths and asked whether the training would be sufficiently rigorous. Witnesses said the board‑approval process would vet course content and that the intention was to recognize experienced clinicians who lack a newer doctoral credential but can complete board‑approved training.

No final committee vote on the bill was recorded in the hearing transcript; the matter was left after testimony and questions.","Senate Bill 2,273 would allow trained physical therapists to order advanced diagnostic imaging, including MRI and CT, beyond current plain‑film x‑ray authority; proponents argued it would improve access and timeliness of care, while the North Dakota Radiological Society raised concerns about possible increased imaging and costs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6114654,"Committee backs bill to add informed-consent requirement to North Dakota Physical Therapy law",604,615000,1219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2742583-600ed129040f5ba8b004bd40e9b88581&start=615&end=1219","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2742583-600ed129040f5ba8b004bd40e9b88581/thumbnail_615000.jpg","/articles/6114654/North-Dakota/Committee-backs-bill-to-add-informed-consent-requirement-to-North-Dakota-Physical-Therapy-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114654-4d6a8837a8c7819c4cbd2c4d380dac32/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158860&Signature=h08MZfTeYVCNyQ-i5s0JimshPR7StNzynCBWB6tTC7wNA33NqKMAHxUVIui6BbPfrsVB622QD~HkvWsHqLLIHZp2kQf0fg6BMZ6EJ33NneRxsxDDgHuqQ9TFkr7MimDy-gofuplsEro4c7dhzMSo5XoWnpvUdHWB3TJbB3m3BcpykQvEcHHltPm-Q0WLFK2VadyW0N4ZuHeWdrtxlUxJuXGS7Q7zxrqVr~wt42sTOOXYe0173okhKoc80umZhCndbfK~XVvccSH18Gj2GaRrW0rjMEqS9jvBWIRi9FUc4LTpeL-x7NtFB9ec4~28QswaoUDuyMt8Bod~07m9P6VhWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Political Subdivisions Committee on an unspecified date voted to recommend a due pass for Senate Bill 2,169, a bill that would add an explicit informed-consent requirement to the North Dakota Physical Therapy Practice Act.

Senator Randy Burkhart, R‑Minot, introduced the bill and asked the committee to adopt language that would add “the standard of patient informed consent” to chapter 43‑26.1 of the North Dakota Century Code. Jack McDonald, representing the North Dakota Association of Physical Therapy, and Heather Lundin, a practicing physical therapist and faculty member at the University of Mary, testified in support.

The bill would require that a physical therapist communicate the overall plan of care and obtain informed consent from the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative. Proponents said the language aligns state law with the American Physical Therapy Association’s model practice-act language and the APTA Guide for Professional Conduct, and that it would remove ambiguity about consent requirements.

“As highly trained health care professionals, physical therapists are acutely aware that we must be obtaining informed consent prior to any treatment,” Heather Lundin said. Lundin described informed consent as grounded in patient autonomy and shared decision-making and said written consent is typically included in the patient’s documentation and plan of care.

Representative Warrie moved a due-pass recommendation; Representative Davis seconded. The clerk reported the committee vote as 9 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent or not voting. The committee directed that the bill be placed on the consent agenda and named Representative Davis as the backup on the bill.

Supporters said the requirement largely codifies common practice in larger health-care facilities and professional standards; opponents did not appear during the hearing and no formal opposition was recorded. The committee’s approval sends the measure to the next stage in the legislative process.

The committee hearing record shows proponents from the profession and a request that the committee recommend a due pass; committee members asked about how informed consent is documented and were told it is typically a written consent accompanied by documentation in the plan-of-care notes.","The House Political Subdivisions Committee recommended a due-pass for Senate Bill 2,169, which would add an explicit informed-consent requirement to the North Dakota Physical Therapy Practice Act; the committee voted 9-0 with four absent and placed the bill on the consent agenda.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves bill to clarify oversight, elections and petition audits for water districts

Hearing held on expanding diagnostic-imaging referral authority for physical therapists

Committee backs bill to add informed-consent requirement to North Dakota Physical Therapy law