All Roll Calls
Yes: 212 • No: 19
North DakotaHB 14892025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
AN ACT to create and enact chapter 14-07.7 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to civil protection orders; to amend and reenact sections 11-15-32 and 12-60-23, subsection 2 of section 12.1-17-13, section 14-05-23, subsection 4 of section 14-07.1-01, sections 14-07.1-02.1 and 14-07.1-11, subsection 1 of section 14-07.1-14, section 14-07.1-19, subdivision a of subsection 1 of section 14-07.6-01, subdivision b of subsection 1 of section 15.1-09-33.4, sections 16.1-02-07 and 29-01-15, subdivision g of subsection 1 of section 29-06-15, and subdivision a of subsection 2 of section 47-16-17.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to restraining orders and protection orders; to repeal sections 12.1-31-01.2, 12.1-31.2-01, 14-07.1-02, 14-07.1-03, 14-07.1-03.1, 14-07.1-04, 14-07.1-05, 14-07.1-05.1, 14-07.1-06, 14-07.1-07, and 14-07.1-08 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to sexual assault restraining orders and domestic violence protection orders; to provide a penalty; and to provide an effective date.
Sponsored By: Bernie Satrom (Republican)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 4 costs, 4 mixed.
Court orders protect against unwanted contact
Courts can issue temporary disorderly conduct and sexual assault orders without advance notice when reasonable grounds support the allegations. Disorderly conduct orders can stop the conduct or contact; sexual assault orders bar contact, harassment, stalking, threats, and specified visits. Hearings generally must be set within 14 days after the temporary order, unless good cause supports delay. Service generally must occur at least five days before the hearing; final orders require service, a hearing, and reasonable grounds. Final orders last no more than two years and expire at 11:59 p.m. local time on their expiration date.
More people can seek court protection
People who experienced disorderly conduct, domestic violence, or sexual assault can seek civil protection orders. Domestic violence protection covers spouses, relatives, current or former dating partners and housemates, shared-child parents, and other court-approved relationships. A parent, guardian, or court-appointed lawyer files for minors unless they are old and capable enough to file alone. Each petition must identify the order sought, supporting facts, and related cases, and name only one respondent. Courts cannot issue orders against both parties in one action, and seeking protection does not block other legal actions.
No filing fees and more protection help
People seeking civil protection orders pay no filing or service fees. Courts can require security or a bond only when necessary in an exceptional case. Leaving home to avoid domestic violence does not remove your right to seek protection. Victim-witness coordinators, state’s attorney staff, and certified advocates can help prepare papers; certified advocates can sit with petitioners in court. At the petitioner’s request, courts must order police help carrying out the order, including taking possession of a home.
Courts can require weapon surrender
Courts can order domestic violence respondents to surrender firearms or specified dangerous weapons in their possession, custody, or control. This requires probable cause that the respondent is likely to use, display, or threaten to use the weapon in further violence. Surrender is due within 24 hours after service or when an officer requests it, whichever comes first. If the respondent fails to surrender within 24 hours, an officer may arrest the respondent and take the weapon.
Domestic violence orders address household finances
Domestic violence orders can limit contact and access to homes, set temporary parenting arrangements, and award temporary property use. Courts can also order temporary support for a party and minor children, plus reasonable lawyer fees and costs. Courts can require offender assessments and intervention programs; respondents pay assessment and report costs, or their home county pays if indigent. Hearings generally must be set within 14 days after a temporary order, unless good cause supports delay. Final orders require service and findings that the relationship warrants protection and actual or imminent domestic violence occurred.
More privacy for protected people
Domestic violence and sexual assault cases must remove protected people’s names from public records. Records revealing their identity or location are confidential, and hearings are closed subject to court-approved attendance. Beginning January 1, 2026, people with civil protection orders receive a “secured active” voter-file designation. Their voter records remain active for pollbooks but are otherwise exempt from public access.
Renters can use new protection orders
Beginning January 1, 2026, civil protection orders and orders prohibiting contact can support existing state tenant protections. The tenant must fear imminent domestic violence from the person named in the order or another qualifying court-filed record. The change adds qualifying records but does not specify a payment or rent reduction.
Protection orders reach statewide police databases
Courts must electronically send issued, changed, extended, or ended orders to the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation for national database entry. The bureau must maintain a registry, and sheriffs must notify it within 24 hours after covered orders are issued. Local police must receive issuance copies by close of business unless approved electronic notice meets that requirement. Orders are enforceable statewide; state warrant-system entries remain for one year or until expiration or termination, whichever comes first. Police agencies must create and use domestic violence arrest guidelines with help from the state criminal justice training and statistics division.
Bad-faith abuse claims trigger legal costs
A court must order payment when it finds a domestic violence allegation was false and made in bad faith. The person making it must pay the other party’s court costs and reasonable lawyer fees for responding. This applies in protection order, divorce, separation, parenting responsibility, parenting time, and termination of parental rights cases. The law sets no fixed amount.
Domestic violence cases bring supervision requirements
Sentences for listed offenses against intimate partners must include a domestic violence offender assessment and court-directed intervention program. The offense list includes the specified violation under the new protection order law. Anger management or individual counseling can substitute only when an intervention program is not reasonably available and the court explains why it is inappropriate. Courts can also require electronic home detention or GPS monitoring for people released after domestic-violence-related charges or arrests.
Order violations bring arrests and penalties
Beginning January 1, 2026, a first protection order violation after service is a class A misdemeanor and contempt of court. After a conviction, a second or later violation is a class C felony. Officers must arrest without a warrant for the specified protection order offense, even when they did not witness it. Officers acting in good faith, with probable cause and without malice, are protected from criminal and civil liability for arrest.
Court-appointed lawyers for minors carry costs
Courts can appoint a lawyer to represent a minor’s interests when there is special concern about the minor’s immediate future. A party can request the appointment, or the court can act on its own. Courts can charge either or both parties the fees. If neither can pay, courts can order county payment after notifying the county state’s attorney, and can require later repayment.
New order system preserves existing protections
Beginning January 1, 2026, one civil protection order chapter replaces the former domestic violence, sexual assault, and disorderly conduct laws. Orders issued before that date under the listed former laws remain valid for their stated terms. Municipal judges lose their listed power to issue temporary protection orders under the repealed law.
School rules recognize new protection orders
Beginning January 1, 2026, school rules recognize civil protection orders issued against a student. The order must have been requested by another student or a school employee. The change brings the new orders into the school rule; it does not specify an additional consequence for the student.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Bernie Satrom
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Lawrence R. Klemin
Republican • House
Mitch Ostlie
Republican • House
Cole Conley
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/14/2025
Second reading, passed, yeas 85 nays 9
Yes: 85 • No: 9
Senate vote • 4/7/2025
Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 47 nays 0
Yes: 47 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2025
Second reading, passed, yeas 80 nays 10
Yes: 80 • No: 10
Actions Timeline
Filed with Secretary Of State 04/22
4/24/2025HouseSigned by Governor 04/21
4/23/2025HouseSent to Governor
4/18/2025HouseSigned by Speaker
4/18/2025HouseSigned by President
4/16/2025SenateSecond reading, passed, yeas 85 nays 9
4/14/2025HouseConcurred
4/14/2025HouseReturned to House (12)
4/8/2025HouseSecond reading, passed as amended, yeas 47 nays 0
4/7/2025SenateAmendment adopted, placed on calendar
4/7/2025SenateReported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 7 0 0
4/4/2025SenateCommittee Hearing 02:30
4/1/2025SenateIntroduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
3/7/2025SenateReceived from House
2/25/2025SenateSecond reading, passed, yeas 80 nays 10
2/24/2025HouseAmendment adopted, placed on calendar
2/21/2025HouseReported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 8 5 1
2/20/2025HouseCommittee Hearing 09:00
2/11/2025HouseIntroduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
1/20/2025House
Bill Text
Adopted by the House Judiciary Committee
Enrollment
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
FIRST ENGROSSMENT with Senate Amendments
INTRODUCED
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Larson
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