Senate panel hears testimony on bill to create elevator inspections, registry and certificates of operation

Senator Greg Kessel, sponsor of Senate Bill 2336, asked the Senate Industry and Business Committee to give the measure a due-pass recommendation, saying the bill would “implement common sense people moving elevator safety legislation.”

The proposal would require registration, annual safety tests and certificates of operation for publicly accessible elevators — for example in hotels, airports, hospitals and office buildings — and would place elevator inspection and certification authority with the North Dakota State Electrical Board, testimony and committee discussion showed. Supporters emphasized the bill would not apply to private residences, industrial or agricultural elevators, or to grain elevators.

Why it matters: Backers said an inspection regime and a registry would reduce the number of entrapments and unexpected hazards first responders face, improve equipment reliability and help prevent injuries and deaths of technicians. “We responded to 13 elevator incidences in 2022, 10 in 2023, and 9 in 2024,” said Darren Schimke, president of the Professional Firefighters of North Dakota, describing the burden stalled or trapped-elevator incidents impose on emergency crews. Doug Nelson, the state fire marshal, told the committee fire departments statewide reported roughly 460 incidents of people trapped in elevators over the past five years.

Officials and industry witnesses outlined how implementation would work. James Schmidt, executive director of the North Dakota State Electrical Board, said his agency currently inspects electrical connections to the elevator disconnect but does not inspect cabs, shafts, door controls or the fire-alarm interface. “We would have to come up with a fee schedule and hire an elevator expert,” Schmidt said, adding the board is willing to take on the program if the Legislature approves it.

Several certified elevator mechanics and business owners told the committee they face unsafe conditions in the field. Kevin Sullivan, a certified elevator mechanic and qualified elevator inspector, described the bill as aligning North Dakota with the standards used in most other states and said the bill requires reporting of elevator-related accidents and incidents and authorizes the State Electrical Board to issue permits and certificates after safety acceptance tests. Ryan Parkos and Jesse Larson, both elevator mechanics and contractors, recounted near-miss and fatal incidents they have encountered while working on equipment.

Costs, timing and scope: Witnesses said initial acceptance tests for newly installed elevators are normally included in the project cost. For ongoing inspections, witnesses and board staff estimated a modest fee for state inspectors to issue certificates — testimony placed that fee “between $50 and $100” — and described a phased implementation schedule that would begin in August 2026 and be phased in through 2032. The committee discussed whether inspection frequency should be annual, biennial or another interval; proponents said industry standard is an annual safety check and a five-year full-load safety test.

Implementation capacity: Witnesses and board staff discussed capacity needs. Sullivan and others estimated a multi-year rollout; Schmidt said the board could start with a small staff member (an elevator mechanic/inspector) to create the registry and checklist and that more inspectors could be added later. Estimates of how many elevators are in the state varied in testimony and the record showed inconsistent figures; witnesses said there is currently no central registry.

Committee process: Senator Kessel asked the committee for a “due pass” recommendation. The hearing drew testimony from industry representatives, local contractors and first responders; no committee vote was recorded during the hearing session.

Next steps: Committee members discussed administrative-rule implementation, fee-setting and which state agency should house the program. The sponsor and State Electrical Board officials said the board could develop rules and a fee schedule; some senators urged ensuring adequate timeframe, a clear registry and harmonization with fire and electrical code enforcement. No final committee action was taken at the hearing.