The North Dakota Senate on Jan. 15 adopted amendments and passed a series of bills affecting child support rules, animal premises identification, professional licensing and health programs, and transportation rules. Lawmakers also rejected a proposed physician assistant licensure compact.

Several proposed amendments were approved earlier in the day. A proposed amendment to Senate Bill 2093 moved the bill’s effective date back to Dec. 31, 2023; the amendment was adopted. Amendments to Senate Bill 2101 requiring cooperative agreements among ambulance and emergency medical services were adopted at the request of western fire departments. An amendment to Senate Bill 2081 from the Department of Health and Human Services modernized language in the Century Code about geriatric facility admissions; that amendment was adopted.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 2087 (premises identification for livestock): Passed, 47–0. The bill clarifies state and USDA roles on premises ID numbers and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association authority for cattle, horses and mules. Sponsor: Senator Lam.

- Senate Bill 2080 (child support administration and related changes): Passed, 47–0. Changes include allowing certain non‑attorney department staff to request contempt hearings, clarifying support extension rules for children in high school, extending time to schedule some hearings, revising termination-of-parental-rights consequences for support, replacing affidavits with declarations, removing statutory requirement for departmental regional offices, and repealing a statute on public disclosure of certain obligors. Sponsor: Senator Lewick.

- Senate Bill 2073 (criminal history checks for treasurer access to federal tax information): Passed, 47–0. Committee noted federal rule changes requiring subsequent background checks every five years. Sponsor: Senator Castaneda.

- Senate Bill 2051 (fees for private investigators and security board; emergency): Passed, 46–1. Fiscal note: $217,480 increased revenue and $50,000 increased expenditures per biennium. Sponsor: Senator Klein.

- Senate Bill 2140 (dementia care services program): Passed, 47–0. Bill expands definitions of "client," requires information‑sharing to medical providers and first responders, offers consultation and referral services, and authorizes on‑demand training for direct care providers. Sponsor: Senator Clemens.

- Senate Bill 2075 (short‑haul exemption hours alignment): Passed, 47–0 (emergency). Aligns North Dakota short‑haul hours with federal regulation by increasing allowed daily hours from 12 to 14; sponsor: Senator Paulson.

- Senate Bill 2079 (definition of mental health professional): Passed, 47–0. Adds certified peer support specialists to a higher reimbursement tier. Sponsor: Senator Rohrs.

- Senate Bill 2076 (prior authorization changes in Medicaid pharmacy policy): Passed, 45–2. Removes a statutory prior‑authorization requirement that would have applied to children on five or more psychiatric medications and updates rebate processes; sponsor: Senator Rohrs.

- Senate Bill 2058 (board of water well contractors operations): Passed, 44–3. Moves certain policy language from statute into administrative rules; fiscal note: no fiscal impact. Sponsor: Senator Larson.

- Senate Bill 2108 (physician assistant licensure compact): Failed, 0–47. Sponsors asked for a "do not pass" because the compact is not yet active and several states and agencies raised concerns.

What supporters said: Committee sponsors described the bills as technical updates, operational clarifications, or steps to align state law with federal rules. Senator Lam told the chamber the premises ID bill would help officials "quickly and precisely identify where animals are in the event of an animal health or food safety emergency." Senator Lewick said proposed child support changes would improve customer service and internal operations at the Department of Health and Human Services.

What opponents or skeptics said: Few bills drew extended floor debate; objections recorded included concern about fee increases in SB 2051 and the workforce capacity and scope questions flagged around the physician assistant compact. For SB 2108, sponsors said the compact needs more work and urged a red vote so it could be revised.

Fiscal and implementation notes: SB 2051 included a fiscal note showing a projected $217,480 revenue increase and $50,000 increased expenditures per biennium. SB 2058 indicated no fiscal impact. Several measures included emergency clauses to take effect sooner.

The Senate convened with 47 senators present and recessed until 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.