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Committee backs modest increase in bar exam application fee
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended a "do pass" for Senate Bill 2053, a request from the Supreme Court and State Board of Law Examiners to raise the bar application fee from $150 to $200, citing rising administration costs and a new national exam vendor fee increase beginning in 2027.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday recommended a do-pass for Senate Bill 2053, which would raise North Dakota's bar examination application fee from $150 to $200.
Petra Mandegoholm, clerk of the Supreme Court and secretary-treasurer of the State Board of Law Examiners, testified in support. "The fee is a $150 and has not been raised since 1997," Mandegoholm said, adding the board requests an increase to $200. She told the committee the current revenue from timely applicants — about 100 examinees annually — is roughly $15,000 and "does not cover the expenses of the administration of the examination."
Mandegoholm outlined costs the board covers, including staff time, proctors, graders, exam supplies and facility rental. She said the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which supplies the exam, informed jurisdictions that the electronic examination contract is losing money and that exam costs will rise by at least $50 beginning in 2027.
Senators questioned the sizing of the increase and the fiscal-note math. Senator Kesten Yada noted a fiscal-note estimate that appeared to show $12,000 in additional revenue over a biennium and asked how that aligned with the testimony. Mandegoholm and staff responded the fiscal estimate assumed a different applicant average (120 applicants per year) and that year-to-year counts vary.
After testimony, Senator Merdahl moved a do-pass recommendation; Senator Lueck seconded. A roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval by the senators present and the motion carried. The committee asked Senator Cory to carry the bill to the floor.
The bill would leave North Dakota with a lower standard exam cost than many neighboring states according to Mandegoholm’s testimony — she cited Montana, South Dakota and Minnesota as having higher first-time test taker fees — and aims to offset increased vendor and administrative costs without matching higher neighboring-state fees.
Votes at a glance: the committee took a roll-call vote after debate; the motion passed with all senators voting in favor.
The committee record shows no opposition testimony was offered at the hearing.
What happens next: The committee recommended the bill be carried to the full Senate; a committee member was asked to sponsor the bill for floor consideration.
