# North Dakota HB 1602: AN ACT to amend and reenact section 54-52-02.15 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to political subdivision participation in the public employees retirement system defined contribution retirement plan.

North Dakota HB 1602, AN ACT to amend and reenact section 54-52-02.15 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to political subdivision participation in the public employees retirement system defined contribution retirement plan., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Jim Kasper (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-04-07 (Filed with Secretary Of State 04/03); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-HB1602-202501
- 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 1602
- State: North Dakota
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT to amend and reenact section 54-52-02.15 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to political subdivision participation in the public employees retirement system defined contribution retirement plan.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-20
- Last action: 2025-04-07, Filed with Secretary Of State 04/03
- Sponsor: Jim Kasper (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 10
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (118 yes, 18 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Current members keep pension benefits: benefit, high. If you became a participating or deferred member before January 1, 2025, you stay in the defined benefit plan. This remains true even if you are rehired after December 31, 2024.
- Local governments can opt out, no exit fee: benefit, low. Political subdivisions do not have to join the state defined contribution plan. If a local government leaves that plan, the retirement board cannot charge any withdrawal fees or costs.
- New public hires join DC plan: cost, high. Beginning January 1, 2025, the defined benefit main plan is closed to new eligible employees. If you start with a participating employer on or after that date and are a permanent employee age 18+ who is not eligible for a listed plan, you must join the defined contribution plan under chapter 54-52.…
- Switching between DC and special plans: mixed, medium. If you are in the defined contribution plan and later qualify for a listed plan (law enforcement, judges, highway patrol, teachers’ fund, or the university alternative plan), you can join that plan. If you are in a listed plan and later become an eligible employee, you cannot join the main defined…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jim Kasper (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jorin Johnson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Keith Kempenich (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Ben Koppelman (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Motschenbacher (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dan Ruby (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Vicky Steiner (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Sean Cleary (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: David Hogue (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jerry Klein (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bob Paulson (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-25 | Senate | Second reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 0 | pass | 46 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | House | Second reading, passed, yeas 72 nays 18 | pass | 72 | 18 |   |

## Actions (16)

- 2025-04-07: Filed with Secretary Of State 04/03 (House)
- 2025-04-04: Signed by Governor 04/02 (House)
- 2025-04-01: Sent to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-01: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-03-27: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-26: Returned to House (House)
- 2025-03-25: Second reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 0 (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 4 0 2 (Senate)
- 2025-03-20: Committee Hearing 02:30 (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Introduced, first reading, referred State and Local Government Committee (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Received from House (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Second reading, passed, yeas 72 nays 18 (House)
- 2025-02-18: Amendment adopted, placed on calendar (House)
- 2025-02-17: Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 8 2 4 (House)
- 2025-01-30: Committee Hearing 10:00 (House)
- 2025-01-20: Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs Committee (House)

## Bill text

- Enrollment: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0655-03000.pdf)
- FIRST ENGROSSMENT: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0655-02000.pdf)
- INTRODUCED: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0655-01000.pdf)
- Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Kasper: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0655-01001m.pdf)

## Related bills

- 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)
- 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 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
- [Enrollment (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0655-03000.pdf)
- [FIRST ENGROSSMENT (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0655-02000.pdf)
- [INTRODUCED (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0655-01000.pdf)
- [Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Kasper (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0655-01001m.pdf)

## Related
- [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)
- [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 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)
- [North Dakota bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-dakota/bills)
- [North Dakota state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/north-dakota)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-HB1602-202501 (as of 2026-10-18).