North Dakota House approves health, education and public-safety measures; 24/7 sobriety fee bill fails

BISMARCK — The North Dakota House of Representatives on March 12 passed a series of bills on health insurance, education and emergency services, and rejected a proposal that would have barred judges from waiving fees for the state's 24/7 sobriety program.

The most consequential votes included approval of a reinsurance bill for the Reinsurance Association of North Dakota, measures to require criminal-background checks for additional health professions, a pilot grant program for K–3 foreign-language instruction and legislation aimed at preserving local ambulance-district governance. Lawmakers also defeated bills to limit judges' ability to waive 24/7 sobriety program fees and to create new tobacco taxes.

Why it matters: the measures affect insurance rates and market stability, training and staffing for rural emergency responders, early‑education options and how courts and counties handle costs for a widely used sobriety-monitoring program. Several bills passed with bipartisan margins; the 24/7 fee change drew sustained floor debate and ultimately failed.

Most important actions

- Reinsurance association changes (Senate Bill 2091): Passed 87–5. The Industry, Business and Labor committee presented the bill, saying the Reinsurance Association of North Dakota (RAND) helps insurers by sharing high-dollar individual‑market claims; under the bill the RAND board could set the attachment point each year (but not below $100,000 or above $1,000,000) and adjust the coinsurance percentage (not to exceed 75%). Representative Johnson said, “RAND is designed to assist insurance companies by sharing in the risk of higher dollar claims.” The bill carries an emergency clause so the changes can inform 2026 rate-setting.

- Criminal-history checks for naturopathic doctors and genetic counselors (Senate Bill 2042): Passed 92–0. The bill adds those professions to existing licensing criminal‑background‑check requirements already applied to physicians and physician assistants.

- K–3 foreign-language pilot grants (Senate Bill 2275): Passed 68–24. The bill creates a pilot grant program, administered by the superintendent of public instruction, to provide annual grants (not to exceed $2,500 per school) beginning in the 2025–26 school year for schools that offer foreign-language instruction for kindergarten through grade 3.

- Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act (Senate Bill 2126): Passed 92–0. The bill adopts the model Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act, allowing courts to impose preventive measures (travel restrictions, surrender of passports, contact restrictions and, in extraordinary circumstances, warrants to take physical custody) when a credible abduction risk is shown.

- Rural ambulance board compensation (Senate Bill 2358): Passed 74–17. The measure removes a prohibition on board compensation and instead allows board members to receive pay at rates set by their boards.

- EMS training rule change (Senate Bill 2100): Passed 91–0. Sponsors said an administrative rule adopted in April 2024 created a new third‑party training‑institute requirement that threatens rural volunteer EMS programs; the bill restores the prior ability for local trainers to provide entry-level certification under Department of Health and Human Services oversight.

Defeated and debated bills

- 24/7 sobriety fee limitation (Senate Bill 2365): Failed 42–49. The bill would have mandated that the state cover or prohibit local fee waivers for the 24/7 program; Judiciary committee members recommended “do not pass.” Supporters, including several county sheriffs' backers on the floor, said fee waivers shifted costs to counties. Opponents warned the bill would remove judges' ability to waive fees for indigent defendants, potentially forcing incarceration as de facto punishment for inability to pay. Representative Clameen argued that indigency procedures already require a judge to determine hardship and that “If they're indigent, then the attorney general's rules say that they must waive the fee.”

- Tobacco and electronic nicotine product tax package (Senate Bill 2281): Failed 21–17. The Finance and Taxation committee recommended “do not pass.” Sponsors sought to raise cigarette taxes and add separate taxes on cigars, other tobacco products and electronic‑nicotine products; opponents said the structure could double‑tax some products, be regressive and encourage illicit sales.

Other floor actions

- Condominium and homeowners‑association disclosure requirements (Senate Bill 2229): Passed 87–4; the bill requires sellers to provide buyers certain association documents and disclosures within 10 days of a purchase agreement (the bill contains no enforcement penalty in its current form).

- Legislative study of grant funding for emergency services and public safety (Senate Bill 2332): Passed (reported as 79–12). The bill charges interim legislative management to study options for a grant program during the 2025–26 interim and report to the 70th Legislative Assembly.

- Dissolution and transition of the Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota (In‑Gross Senate Bill 2032): Passed 91–0 with emergency clause. Sponsors said low enrollment and market changes after the Affordable Care Act mean the association will cease enrollment May 1, 2025, and terminate existing benefit plans Dec. 31, 2025, with notices to policyholders and coordination with Blue Cross Blue Shield for claims.

Floor context and debate highlights

The most contested debate centered on the 24/7 sobriety fee language. Supporters emphasized county budgets and public‑safety costs; Representative Wagner asked: if defendants can afford bail, “how do they afford the fees?” Opponents pressed that removing judicial discretion risks incarcerating indigent people and could increase county costs for jail beds. Representative Satrim pointed out the practical effect of small aggregate waivers, noting committee testimony that the county impact from fee waivers in one county was roughly $3,000 compared with much higher daily incarceration costs.

Representative Hawley framed the EMS training bill as a rural‑services lifeline: “If we don't pass this bill, the reality is simple. Fewer volunteers step up, more ambulances struggle to operate, and lives will be put on risk because emergency services won't be there for people who need them.”

Representative Johnson and the Industry, Business and Labor committee described RAND changes as tailored to preserve market stability while keeping the statutory attachment points and coinsurance ceilings in place.

Votes at a glance

(Listed as in the House record)

- SB 2091 (RAND reinsurance; emergency clause): Passed 87–5 - SB 2042 (Criminal background checks for naturopathic doctors and genetic counselors): Passed 92–0 - SB 2367 (Agricultural property assessment modifiers clarification): Passed 92–0 - SB 2275 (K–3 foreign‑language pilot grants; appropriation; $2,500 cap per grant): Passed 68–24 - SB 2126 (Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act): Passed 92–0 - SB 2365 (Limit on waiving 24/7 sobriety fees): Failed 42–49 - SB 2281 (Tobacco/alternative nicotine tax package): Failed 21–17 - SB 2229 (Condo/HOA disclosure requirements): Passed 87–4 - SB 2358 (Rural ambulance board compensation): Passed 74–17 - SB 2332 (Legislative study of grant funding for emergency services and public safety): Passed 79–12 - SB 2100 (EMS personnel training; restore local training oversight): Passed 91–0 - In‑Gross SB 2032 (Dissolve/transition Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota; emergency clause): Passed 91–0

What happens next

Several bills carry emergency clauses or require state agencies to adopt rules or administer programs; the RAND reinsurance change and the Comprehensive Health Association transition include emergency provisions to affect near‑term rate‑setting and enrollment timelines. The House adjourned until 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2025.

Ending note

Floor action combined unanimous votes on technical or occupational licensing changes with close, partisan votes on tax and fee policy. Lawmakers flagged follow‑up work for interim study (grant funding for emergency services) and for agency rulemaking to implement passed items.