BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota House considered a wide array of bills and resolutions on March 26, 2025, approving some measures and rejecting others across committees including Government and Veterans Affairs, Industry, Business and Labor, Human Services, Education, Finance and Taxation, and Agriculture. Below is a concise account of the formal actions recorded on the floor and brief descriptions of what was before the House.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 2308 — Create a task force to review boards, commissions and similar entities (Government and Veterans Affairs). Final vote: 85 yeas, 7 nays; outcome: passed. The bill would dissolve 17 named boards and transfer some duties to state agencies; the Office of Management and Budget submitted a fiscal note estimating reductions in general and other fund expenditures for the 2025‑27 biennium.

- Senate Bill 2357 — Legislative study on a composite mental health licensing board. Final vote: 8 yeas, 84 nays; outcome: failed. The Industry, Business and Labor committee recommended do not pass (11–2–1 recorded in committee).

- SCR 4012 — Concurrent resolution urging Congress to permit use of M‑44 sodium cyanide devices on any land. Final vote: 87 yeas, 5 nays; outcome: passed. The Agriculture Committee recommended due pass (13–0–1 in committee); sponsors said the measure is intended to aid predator control for livestock producers.

- SCR 4002 — Concurrent resolution urging Congress to allow landowners to terminate certain perpetual easements held by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Final vote: 82 yeas, 10 nays; outcome: passed. Supporters cited longstanding disputes over easement scope and local landowner impacts; opponents argued these are voluntary, recorded real estate agreements.

- Senate Bill 2096 — Appropriation for regional acute psychiatric treatment and residential supportive housing services (DHHS). Final vote: 14 yeas, 78 nays; outcome: failed. The Human Services Committee gave a do‑not‑pass recommendation citing concerns about grant vs. loan structure and lack of a clear implementer or business plan.

- Senate Bill 2190 — Medicaid coverage expansion for applied behavior analysis for autism (ABA). Final vote: 14 yeas, 78 nays; outcome: failed. Committee concerns included fiscal uncertainty, workforce shortages and program integrity reviews.

- SCR 4027 — Ballot measure language change on charitable gaming proceeds restrictions. Final vote: 7 yeas, 85 nays; outcome: failed. The Judiciary Committee recommended do not pass, noting existing statutory restrictions and potential constitutional and drafting issues.

- Senate Bill 2221 — Expands skilled workforce student loan repayment eligibility to include certain nursing educators. Final vote: 91 yeas, 1 nay; outcome: passed. Sponsors cited a critical nursing shortage and the need for more nursing faculty.

- Senate Bill 2076 — Prior authorization and certification changes in Medicaid (DHHS request). Final vote: 92 yeas, 0 nays; outcome: passed. The bill removes certain prior authorization steps and implements a certification path to verify medical necessity for specified medications and populations.

- Senate Bill 2039 — Amendments to property tax exemptions and agricultural property definitions (taxation committee). Final vote: 84 yeas, 7 nays; outcome: passed. The bill clarifies storage and delivery language and affects exemptions for platted vs. unplatted property with a stated legislative intent for certain dates.

- Senate Bill 2336 — Regulation of conveyances and elevator contractors; creates elevator inspector and oversight under state electrical board. Final vote: 77 yeas, 15 nays; outcome: passed. Sponsors said the bill addresses safety gaps, creates an elevator inspector position and adds an elevator mechanic to the state electrical board; excludes private‑residence elevators and grain elevators.

- Senate Bill 2244 — Motion to lay over one legislative day (procedural). Motion carried.

- Senate Bill 2348 — Health care sharing ministries; define and exempt qualified ministries from insurance laws and allow qualifying student participation to satisfy university insurance requirements. Final vote: 72 yeas, 19 nays; outcome: passed. Supporters called the bill clarity and consumer protection; critics said it could be used to substitute for regulated insurance and urged caution.

- Senate Bill 2395 — Universal licensure and board operations reforms to speed licensing and promote interstate compacts. Final vote: 89 yeas, 2 nays; outcome: passed. The measure codifies deadlines for license issuance, supports compacts and allows temporary licenses under certain conditions.

- Senate Bill 2035 — Amendments relating to charitable gaming definitions and who may conduct raffles/charitable gaming. Final vote: 4 yeas, 80 nays; outcome: failed. The House Education Committee had unanimously recommended do not pass, citing lack of stakeholder agreement and no grandfather clause concerns.

- Senate Bill 2330 — Human trafficking prevention and awareness policy for schools (amended to preserve local control and partnership options). Final vote: 90 yeas, 1 nay; outcome: passed. The bill requires districts to adopt policies and allows local tailoring of curricula and partnerships.

- Senate Bill 2109 — Workforce Safety and Insurance changes: clarifications on psychological injury compensability, definitions, electronic decision authority, increased death benefit and scholarship increases. Final vote: 78 yeas, 20 nays; outcome: passed. Committee and WSI described statutory clarifications needed after court rulings and modest benefit increases.

Procedural notes and fiscal items mentioned on the floor

- Several bills carried fiscal notes prepared by the Office of Management and Budget or the departments sponsoring the bills. For example, SB 2308 included OMB estimates of general fund and other fund reductions in the 2025‑27 biennium; SB 2039 included legislative council revenue/expenditure impacts; SB 2096 requested a multi‑million dollar appropriation and the Human Services Committee cited concerns about committing large grant funds without identified recipients.

- Committee recommendations were frequently read on the floor before votes; where committees recommended 'do not pass' members often cited legal, fiscal or policy concerns.

What to watch next

Several bills that passed the House will continue through the legislative process (conference with the Senate where necessary and enrollment for the governor). Measures that failed on the floor may be revised and reintroduced in future sessions, or pursued via study by legislative management depending on committee direction.

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