North Dakota House passes budget, health and infrastructure measures; vaccine exemption and oil‑spill study fail

The North Dakota House of Representatives on Feb. 20, 2025, passed a series of bills covering appropriations, public‑health directives and infrastructure policy while rejecting several high‑profile measures, including a proposed vaccine‑exemption statute and a requested study of oil and chemical spills on state highways within the Fort Berthold Reservation.

The session produced decisive votes on multiple items: House Bill 10‑38, setting up a state radar data agreement, passed 84‑3; House Bill 11‑14, capping out‑of‑pocket costs for covered insulin and related supplies for plans to which the bill applies, passed 59‑27; a concurrent resolution urging regional grid operators to address market failures (HCR 30‑15) passed 87‑0. By contrast, House Bill 14‑57, a proposed new exemption to required vaccines, failed 45‑42, and House Bill 16‑11, a request for a legislative study of oil and chemical spills on state highways on the Fort Berthold Reservation, failed 24‑62.

Why it matters: the package advances state spending priorities and several policies with immediate operational effects — including an appropriation to acquire federal radar data to support beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight unmanned aircraft operations, and statutory changes affecting landlords, school practices and foster‑care providers. At the same time, the House declined proposals that would have created new data‑tracking requirements tied to vaccinations or funded a state‑led study of spills affecting tribal lands.

Debates and key statements Representative Hendricks, speaking during debate on House Bill 14‑57 (vaccine exemption), framed the measure as “another avenue for exemption” for people who have concerns about vaccines that, in their view, “have not gone through the same rigorous scientific testing.” Representative Murphy countered on the floor: “If you go to the FDA website and you look at the rigor of clinical trials for vaccinations, they are equal to any other pharmaceutical,” and urged colleagues to vote no on the bill. After reconsideration and final roll call, HB 14‑57 was declared failed…