All Roll Calls
Yes: 139 • No: 0
North DakotaHB 16222026 January Special SessionHouseWALLET
AN ACT to create and enact chapter 43-17.5 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the physician assistant licensure compact; to amend and reenact section 43-17-01, subsection 1 of section 43-17-02.1, and sections 43-17-02.2 and 43-17-46 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the requirements of physician assistants privileged to practice under the physician assistant licensure compact; and to provide an effective date.
Sponsored By: Legislative Management
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.
License discipline stops assistants’ cross-state privileges
A participating state can discipline a physician assistant’s compact practice privilege using that state’s due-process rules. Only the state issuing the qualifying license can discipline that license. Discipline against the qualifying license stops compact privileges in every other participating state. Those privileges remain stopped until two years after all license restrictions are removed.
Physician assistants face late-response fees
Physician assistants with a North Dakota license or compact privilege must answer the board’s extra application questions by its deadline. Missing that deadline can trigger an additional fee up to three times the normal North Dakota physician assistant licensing fee. Other legal penalties remain available. The Board of Medicine pays compact commission charges through its own funding, without requesting state general-fund money.
Assistants get transition time when states leave
A state can leave by repealing the compact, with withdrawal taking effect 180 days after enactment. The commission can also remove a defaulting state after written notice, offers of help, and exhausted efforts to secure compliance. Removal requires a majority vote of participating-state delegates. States must notify their licensees, and compact privileges continue during the 180-day transition. A withdrawing state must also recognize compact licenses for at least 180 days after notice. To keep privileges elsewhere afterward, affected assistants must hold or obtain a qualifying license in another participating state within 180 days. Withdrawing states must keep reporting investigations and discipline involving matters from before withdrawal.
Physician assistants gain cross-state practice options
North Dakota joins the physician assistant compact, allowing practice through an active state license or a compact practice privilege. Interstate operation starts when the seventh state enacts the compact and continues even if participation later falls below seven. Applicants need a qualifying license, approved education, current national certification, and a commission identifier. Eligibility bars specified criminal convictions, current license restrictions, and suspended or revoked controlled-substance licenses or federal prescribing registrations. Applicants must provide their home address, report address changes, and meet applicable state legal-knowledge requirements and fees. Physician assistants must report discipline by a nonparticipating state to the commission within 30 days. Controlled-substance prescribing follows the requirements of the state where the patient receives care.
Public input shapes binding compact rules
The compact commission must allow public comment and give at least 30 days’ notice before meetings to vote on rules. Listed emergencies allow rules on 24 hours’ notice without public comment or a hearing. These include health or safety threats, possible loss of commission or state funds, and federal rulemaking deadlines. The commission must complete the usual process afterward, as soon as reasonably possible and within 90 days. Existing commission rules and bylaws become binding when a state joins; state rulemaking procedures do not apply. The compact overrides state laws only where they conflict, leaving other state laws enforceable.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Legislative Management
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 1/23/2026
Second reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 0
Yes: 46 • No: 0
House vote • 1/22/2026
Second reading, passed, yeas 93 nays 0
Yes: 93 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Filed with Secretary Of State 01/23
1/28/2026HouseSigned by Governor 01/23
1/23/2026HouseSent to Governor
1/23/2026HouseSigned by Speaker
1/23/2026HouseSigned by President
1/23/2026SenateReturned to House
1/23/2026HouseSecond reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 0
1/23/2026SenateReported back, do pass, placed on calendar 14 0 0
1/22/2026SenateIntroduced, first reading, referred Joint Policy Committee
1/22/2026SenateReceived from House
1/22/2026SenateSecond reading, passed, yeas 93 nays 0
1/22/2026HouseReported back, do pass, place on calendar 13 0 1
1/21/2026HouseCommittee Hearing 01:00
1/21/2026HouseCommittee Hearing 11:30
1/21/2026HouseIntroduced, first reading, referred Joint Policy Committee
1/21/2026House
Bill Text
Enrollment
INTRODUCED
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