l9n/ North Dakota

2025 Regular Session, 2025–2026

Senate Bill 2004

Relating to immunity and a defense for individuals voting on legislation, closure of a matter of the ethics commission, rules for complaint management time standards, and an ethics commission annual report; to amend and reenact sections 12.1‑13‑02, 54‑66‑01, 54‑66‑04, 54‑66‑05, 54‑66‑06, and 54‑66‑07, subsection 2 of section 54‑66‑08, and sections 54‑66‑09, 54‑66‑10, 54‑66‑12, and 54‑66‑18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution, definitions, ethics commission meetings, complaints, an informal resolution process, law enforcement referrals, findings, appeals, confidential information related to a complaint, and conflicts of interest; and to declare an emergency.

Became law, signed May 17, 2025, 130 days after it was filed.

What it does

The synopsis the Legislative Assembly published with the bill.

AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the ethics commission; to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 and two new sections to chapter 54-66 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity and a defense for individuals voting on legislation, closure of a matter of the ethics commission, rules for complaint management time standards, and an ethics commission annual report; to amend and reenact sections 12.1-13-02, 54-66-01, 54-66-04, 54-66-05, 54-66-06, and 54-66-07, subsection 2 of section 54-66-08, and sections 54-66-09, 54-66-10, 54-66-12, and 54-66-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution, definitions, ethics commission meetings, complaints, an informal resolution process, law enforcement referrals, findings, appeals, confidential information related to a complaint, and conflicts of interest; and to declare an emergency.

Sponsors

Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.

In the Senate

Its course

January 7 to June 11, 2025, on one scale. In the top row each mark is a day something happened; taller marks are busier days.

Each committee stop sits inside its chamber.

Every action29 actions on 16 days

In the SenateJan 7 to Feb 1135 days

AppropriationsJan 7 to Feb 731 days

In the House of RepresentativesFeb 11 to Apr 1462 days

AppropriationsFeb 18 to Apr 1152 days

Back in the SenateApr 14 to May 218 days

Waiting to be sentMay 2 to May 20 days

With the GovernorMay 2 to May 1715 days

Votes

Yeas to nays, as the Legislative Assembly recorded them. Committee votes are set in.

  • Appropriations9–6

    Do pass as amended · Feb 7 · 1 present

  • Senate, second reading25–21

    Passed · Feb 11

  • Appropriations19–3

    Do pass as amended · Apr 11 · 1 present

  • House of Representatives, second reading65–29

    Passed · Apr 14

  • Senate, second reading44–2

    Passed · May 2

  • House of Representatives, second reading71–19

    Passed · May 2

Amendments

Each amendment offered, and what became of it.

  • Senate committee amendmentAdopted

    Adopted Feb 10

  • House of Representatives committee amendmentAdopted

    Adopted Apr 14

Text

Each version as the Legislative Assembly printed it.

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

What happened

In l9n's words, one line for each step. Every action as the Legislative Assembly published it is below.

In the Senate Jan 7 – Feb 11

  1. Jan 7Introduced and sent to Appropriations
  2. Jan 14Heard in Appropriations
  3. Feb 7Appropriations recommended it as amended, 9 to 6
  4. Feb 10Amended as the committee recommended
  5. Feb 11Passed the Senate, 25 to 21

In the House of Representatives Feb 12 – Apr 14

  1. Feb 12Arrived in the House of Representatives
  2. Feb 18Read a first time and sent to Appropriations
  3. Mar 18Heard in Appropriations
  4. Apr 11Appropriations recommended it as amended, 19 to 3
  5. Apr 14Amended as the committee recommended
  6. Passed the House of Representatives, 65 to 29

Back in the Senate Apr 14 – May 2

  1. Apr 14Returned to the Senate
  2. Apr 16The Senate refused the other chamber's changes
  3. Sent to a conference committee
  4. Apr 17Tim Mathern replaced Sean Cleary on the conference committee
  5. Apr 24Sent to a conference committee
  6. May 2The conference committee reported
  7. The Senate adopted the conference committee's report
  8. Passed the Senate, 44 to 2
  9. The conference committee reported
  10. The House of Representatives adopted the conference committee's report
  11. Passed the House of Representatives, 71 to 19
  12. Signed in the House of Representatives

To the Governor May 2 – Jun 11

  1. May 2Signed in the Senate
  2. Sent to the Governor
  3. May 17Signed by the Governor, with items vetoed
  4. Jun 11Filed with the Secretary of State
All 29 actions, as published
  1. Jan 7Introduced, first reading, referred Appropriations CommitteeSenate
  2. Jan 14Committee Hearing 10:00Senate
  3. Feb 7Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 9 6 1Senate
  4. Feb 10Amendment adopted, placed on calendarSenate
  5. Feb 11Second reading, passed, yeas 25 nays 21Senate
  6. Feb 12Received from SenateHouse of Representatives
  7. Feb 18Introduced, first reading, referred Appropriations CommitteeHouse of Representatives
  8. Mar 18Committee Hearing 09:00House of Representatives
  9. Apr 11Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 19 3 1House of Representatives
  10. Apr 14Amendment adopted, placed on calendarHouse of Representatives
  11. Apr 14Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 65 nays 29House of Representatives
  12. Apr 14Emergency clause carriedHouse of Representatives
  13. Apr 14Returned to Senate (12)Senate
  14. Apr 16Refused to concurSenate
  15. Apr 16Conference committee appointed Dever Cleary DavisonSenate
  16. Apr 17Appoint Sen. Mathern to replace Sen. Cleary on conference committeeSenate
  17. Apr 24Conference committee appointed Louser Martinson HansonHouse of Representatives
  18. May 2Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarSenate
  19. May 2Conference committee report adoptedSenate
  20. May 2Second reading, passed, yeas 44 nays 2, Emergency clause carriedSenate
  21. May 2Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarHouse of Representatives
  22. May 2Conference committee report adoptedHouse of Representatives
  23. May 2Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 71 nays 19House of Representatives
  24. May 2Emergency clause carriedHouse of Representatives
  25. May 2Signed by SpeakerHouse of Representatives
  26. May 2Signed by PresidentSenate
  27. May 2Sent to GovernorSenate
  28. May 17Signed by Governor, but item veto 05/19Senate
  29. Jun 11Filed with Secretary Of State 05/19Both houses