# North Dakota HB 1165: AN ACT to amend and reenact section 4.1-20-16, subsection 1 of section 4.1-20-18, section 16.1-01-00.1, subsection 1 of section 16.1-01-09, section 16.1-01-15.1, subsection 3 of section 16.1-05-01, section 16.1-06-02, subdivision g of subsection 1 of section 16.1-06-04, section 16.1-07-07, subsection 4 of section 16.1-07-08, section 16.1-07-09, subsection 3 of section 16.1-07-21, section 16.1-07-24, subsection 2 of section 16.1-07-26, sections 16.1-11-27 and 16.1-11.1-04, subsection 1 of section 16.1-11.1-07, subsection 3 of section 16.1-12-02.2, and subsection 2 of section 16.1-13-05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to absentee ballots, election practices and administration; and to repeal sections 16.1-07-30 and 40-21-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to election notices and municipal voter registration.

North Dakota HB 1165, AN ACT to amend and reenact section 4.1-20-16, subsection 1 of section 4.1-20-18, section 16.1-01-00.1, subsection 1 of section 16.1-01-09, section 16.1-01-15.1, subsection 3 of section 16.1-05-01, section 16.1-06-02, subdivision g of subsection 1 of section 16.1-06-04, section 16.1-07-07, subsection 4 of section 16.1-07-08, section 16.1-07-09, subsection 3 of section 16.1-07-21, section 16.1-07-24, subsection 2 of section 16.1-07-26, sections 16.1-11-27 and 16.1-11.1-04, subsection 1 of section 16.1-11.1-07, subsection 3 of section 16.1-12-02.2, and subsection 2 of section 16.1-13-05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to absentee ballots, election practices and administration; and to repeal sections 16.1-07-30 and 40-21-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to election notices and municipal voter registration., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Scott Louser (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-04-30 (Filed with Secretary Of State 04/28) (as of 2026-10-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-HB1165-202501
- As of: 2026-10-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: North Dakota HB 1165
- State: North Dakota
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT to amend and reenact section 4.1-20-16, subsection 1 of section 4.1-20-18, section 16.1-01-00.1, subsection 1 of section 16.1-01-09, section 16.1-01-15.1, subsection 3 of section 16.1-05-01, section 16.1-06-02, subdivision g of subsection 1 of section 16.1-06-04, section 16.1-07-07, subsection 4 of section 16.1-07-08, section 16.1-07-09, subsection 3 of section 16.1-07-21, section 16.1-07-24, subsection 2 of section 16.1-07-26, sections 16.1-11-27 and 16.1-11.1-04, subsection 1 of section 16.1-11.1-07, subsection 3 of section 16.1-12-02.2, and subsection 2 of section 16.1-13-05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to absentee ballots, election practices and administration; and to repeal sections 16.1-07-30 and 40-21-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to election notices and municipal voter registration.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-04-30, Filed with Secretary Of State 04/28
- Sponsor: Scott Louser (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 11
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (218 yes, 13 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Late-arriving military and overseas ballots protected: benefit, low. Military and overseas voters get protection when their ballots arrive after polls close on election day. Voters must affirm, under penalty of perjury, that they submitted the ballot on time. Officials cannot reject the ballot solely for arriving after polls close or for a late, missing, or unreadab…
- Governments cannot outsource election administration: cost, low. North Dakota and local governments cannot use a private entity to administer an election. Violating this ban is a class A misdemeanor.
- Legislative write-in candidates must file earlier: cost, low. Write-in candidates for legislative district offices must file with the Secretary of State by 4 p.m., 21 days before election day. The deadline moves earlier from four days before the election. The certificate must include the candidate’s name, address, and signature.
- Petition sponsors face firm filing deadline: cost, low. Initiative and referendum sponsors must submit their full petition packet to the Secretary of State within 15 business days, excluding Saturdays. The packet must include the approved statement and sponsoring committee members’ affidavits. A packet not received within that period counts as withdrawn.
- Mail voters face firm return rules: mixed, low. Mail-ballot voters can return ballots by mail to the county auditor or deliver them to an auditor-designated drop-off location. Ballots must arrive by the close of polls on election day. Voters must sign the return envelope, follow ballot instructions, and pay postage when mailing. Voters cannot ha…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Scott Louser (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Lefor (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Karen M. Rohr (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dan Ruby (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Bernie Satrom (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Austen Schauer (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Steve Vetter (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Keith Boehm (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jose L. Castaneda (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: David Hogue (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bob Paulson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kristin Roers (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-21 | House | Second reading, passed, yeas 85 nays 7 | pass | 85 | 7 |   |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 43 nays 4 | pass | 43 | 4 |   |
| 2025-01-28 | House | Second reading, passed, yeas 90 nays 2 | pass | 90 | 2 |   |

## Actions (22)

- 2025-04-30: Filed with Secretary Of State 04/28 (House)
- 2025-04-29: Signed by Governor 04/28 (House)
- 2025-04-25: Sent to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-25: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Second reading, passed, yeas 85 nays 7 (House)
- 2025-04-21: Concurred (House)
- 2025-04-14: Returned to House (12) (House)
- 2025-04-14: Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 43 nays 4 (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: Amendment adopted, placed on calendar (Senate)
- 2025-04-11: Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 5 1 0 (Senate)
- 2025-03-26: Rereferred to State and Local Government (Senate)
- 2025-03-25: Amendment adopted, placed on calendar (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 5 0 1 (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: Committee Hearing 09:40 (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Introduced, first reading, referred State and Local Government Committee (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Received from House (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Second reading, passed, yeas 90 nays 2 (House)
- 2025-01-27: Amendment adopted, placed on calendar (House)
- 2025-01-24: Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 12 1 0 (House)
- 2025-01-17: Committee Hearing 09:00 (House)
- 2025-01-07: Introduced, first reading, referred Political Subdivisions Committee (House)

## Bill text

- Adopted by the House Political Subdivisions Committee: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-02001m.pdf)
- Adopted by the Senate State and Local Government Committee: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-03001m.pdf)
- Enrollment: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-06000.pdf)
- FIRST ENGROSSMENT: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-03000.pdf)
- FIRST ENGROSSMENT with Senate Amendments: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-04000.pdf), [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-05000.pdf)
- INTRODUCED: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-02000.pdf)
- Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Roers: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-03003m.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 1229: AN ACT to create and enact a new subdivision to subsection 2 of section 39-06.1-06 and section 39-10-71.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to statuto… (signed)
- SB 2390: AN ACT to create and enact three new sections to chapter 54-40.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a rural catalyst committee, grant program, and f… (signed)
- HB 1298: AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 39-06.1-06, 39-09-02, 39-09-04, and 39-09-07.1, and subsection 2 of section 40-05-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, rel… (signed)
- SB 2113: AN ACT to create and enact two new sections to chapter 50-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to certified community behavioral health clinics and th… (signed)
- SB 2147: AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 15-10-38.4, a new subsection to section 15-62.4-03, a new section to chapter 15-62.4, and a new subsecti… (signed)
- SB 2018: AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the department of commerce; to provide an appropriation to the attorney general; to provide an… (signed)

## Sources
- [Adopted by the House Political Subdivisions Committee (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-02001m.pdf)
- [Adopted by the Senate State and Local Government Committee (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-03001m.pdf)
- [Enrollment (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-06000.pdf)
- [FIRST ENGROSSMENT (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-03000.pdf)
- [FIRST ENGROSSMENT with Senate Amendments (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-04000.pdf)
- [FIRST ENGROSSMENT with Senate Amendments (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-05000.pdf)
- [INTRODUCED (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-02000.pdf)
- [Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Roers (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0536-03003m.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 1229: AN ACT to create and enact a new subdivision to subsection 2 of section 39-06.1…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-HB1229-202501)
- [SB 2390: AN ACT to create and enact three new sections to chapter 54-40.1 of the North D…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-SB2390-202501)
- [HB 1298: AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 39-06.1-06, 39-09-02, 39-09-04, and 39-09-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-HB1298-202501)
- [SB 2113: AN ACT to create and enact two new sections to chapter 50-06 of the North Dakot…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-SB2113-202501)
- [SB 2147: AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 15-10-38.4, a new subsec…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-SB2147-202501)
- [SB 2018: AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the department…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-SB2018-202501)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-HB1165-202501 (as of 2026-10-18).