All Roll Calls
Yes: 137 • No: 0
North DakotaHB 15612025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 51-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a commercial entity's liability for publishing or distributing sexual material harmful to a minor; to provide a penalty; and to provide for application.
Sponsored By: Steve Swiontek (Republican)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Parents can sue adult sites without checks
The law makes adult sites liable if they do not verify users are 18 or older. It applies when more than 33 1/3% of a site’s content is sexual material harmful to a minor. Acceptable checks include a digitized ID or a verification service that uses government ID or transactional data. Parents or guardians can sue if a minor gets access, and courts can award damages, stop the practice, and order attorney fees. Sites and their vendors cannot keep your ID data after granting access. A minor is under 18, and “harmful to a minor” uses a community-standards test and lacks serious value for minors.
Exemptions for news and internet providers
Bona fide news and public-interest reporting are not covered by these rules. Internet providers, search engines, app stores, and cloud services are not liable just for carrying or storing content they did not create. The safe harbor applies to access, connection, transmission, downloading, or intermediate storage of third‑party content.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Steve Swiontek
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Glenn Bosch
Republican • House
Jay Fisher
Republican • House
Karen Karls
Republican • House
Jon O. Nelson
Republican • House
Anna S. Novak
Republican • House
Brandy L. Pyle
Republican • House
Michelle Axtman
Republican • Senate
Kathy Hogan
Democratic • Senate
Judy Lee
Republican • Senate
Janne Myrdal
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/1/2025
Second reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 0
Yes: 46 • No: 0
House vote • 2/7/2025
Second reading, passed, yeas 91 nays 0
Yes: 91 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Filed with Secretary Of State 04/11
4/14/2025HouseSigned by Governor 04/10
4/11/2025HouseSent to Governor
4/8/2025HouseSigned by Speaker
4/8/2025HouseSigned by President
4/3/2025SenateReturned to House
4/2/2025HouseSecond reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 0
4/1/2025SenateLaid over one legislative day
3/28/2025SenateReported back, do pass, place on calendar 5 0 0
3/26/2025SenateCommittee Hearing 02:30
3/18/2025SenateIntroduced, first reading, referred Industry and Business Committee
2/13/2025SenateReceived from House
2/10/2025SenateSecond reading, passed, yeas 91 nays 0
2/7/2025HouseReported back, do pass, place on calendar 11 0 3
2/6/2025HouseCommittee Hearing 10:00
2/4/2025HouseIntroduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
1/20/2025House
Bill Text
Enrollment
INTRODUCED
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