# North Dakota SB 2004: AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the ethics commission; to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 and two new sections to chapter 54-66 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity and a defense for individuals voting on legislation, closure of a matter of the ethics commission, rules for complaint management time standards, and an ethics commission annual report; to amend and reenact sections 12.1-13-02, 54-66-01, 54-66-04, 54-66-05, 54-66-06, and 54-66-07, subsection 2 of section 54-66-08, and sections 54-66-09, 54-66-10, 54-66-12, and 54-66-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution, definitions, ethics commission meetings, complaints, an informal resolution process, law enforcement referrals, findings, appeals, confidential information related to a complaint, and conflicts of interest; and to declare an emergency. North Dakota SB 2004, AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the ethics commission; to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 and two new sections to chapter 54-66 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity and a defense for individuals voting on legislation, closure of a matter of the ethics commission, rules for complaint management time standards, and an ethics commission annual report; to amend and reenact sections 12.1-13-02, 54-66-01, 54-66-04, 54-66-05, 54-66-06, and 54-66-07, subsection 2 of section 54-66-08, and sections 54-66-09, 54-66-10, 54-66-12, and 54-66-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution, definitions, ethics commission meetings, complaints, an informal resolution process, law enforcement referrals, findings, appeals, confidential information related to a complaint, and conflicts of interest; and to declare an emergency., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Senate Appropriations; status signed, last action 2025-06-11 (Filed with Secretary Of State 05/19) (as of 2026-10-18). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-SB2004-202501 - 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 SB 2004 - State: North Dakota - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the ethics commission; to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 and two new sections to chapter 54-66 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity and a defense for individuals voting on legislation, closure of a matter of the ethics commission, rules for complaint management time standards, and an ethics commission annual report; to amend and reenact sections 12.1-13-02, 54-66-01, 54-66-04, 54-66-05, 54-66-06, and 54-66-07, subsection 2 of section 54-66-08, and sections 54-66-09, 54-66-10, 54-66-12, and 54-66-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution, definitions, ethics commission meetings, complaints, an informal resolution process, law enforcement referrals, findings, appeals, confidential information related to a complaint, and conflicts of interest; and to declare an emergency. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-01-07 - Last action: 2025-06-11, Filed with Secretary Of State 05/19 - Sponsor: Senate Appropriations - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 4 (205 yes, 71 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Funding for North Dakota ethics oversight: benefit, low. The law provides about $1.37 million for the North Dakota Ethics Commission from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. This supports three full-time positions. One-time funding totals $52,348: $50,000 for a case-management system and $2,348 for furniture. The Commission must report its use of that m… - Lawmakers must publicly disclose bill conflicts: benefit, low. Each North Dakota legislative assembly must adopt rules requiring lawmakers to disclose potential conflicts involving bills. The requirement covers bills in which a lawmaker has a unique and individual interest. Each disclosure must be recorded and easy for the public to find. Separate Commission d… - Legal protections for North Dakota lawmakers: benefit, low. North Dakota lawmakers gain protection from state criminal prosecution for offenses arising from committee, Senate, or House votes. They must follow legislative rules requiring disclosure of personal or private interests. This protection also covers an organization for which the lawmaker acts as an… - Consent allows sharing ethics complaint information: mixed, low. Ethics complaint information generally remains confidential, subject to legal and investigation exceptions. The Commission and the person facing a complaint can disclose otherwise confidential information when that person agrees. This expands access to information but means shared material no longe… - Criminal referrals can pause ethics reviews: mixed, low. The Ethics Commission can coordinate with law enforcement when it believes a complaint alleges a crime; coordination is no longer required. If an agency accepts a referral for prosecution, the Commission must wait for notice that criminal proceedings are complete. If the agency declines or takes no… - More ways to resolve ethics complaints: mixed, low. People facing ethics complaints can request dismissal at any time by following the Commission's procedure. If informal resolution fails, the Commission can work with the person facing the complaint to settle and close it. After an investigation, the executive director must recommend closing the mat… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Senate Appropriations ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-02 | Senate | Second reading, passed, yeas 44 nays 2, Emergency clause carried | pass | 44 | 2 | | | 2025-05-02 | House | Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 71 nays 19 | pass | 71 | 19 | | | 2025-04-14 | House | Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 65 nays 29 | pass | 65 | 29 | | | 2025-02-11 | Senate | Second reading, passed, yeas 25 nays 21 | pass | 25 | 21 | | ## Actions (29) - 2025-06-11: Filed with Secretary Of State 05/19 (House) - 2025-05-17: Signed by Governor, but item veto 05/19 (Senate) - 2025-05-02: Sent to Governor (Senate) - 2025-05-02: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-05-02: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-05-02: Emergency clause carried (House) - 2025-05-02: Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 71 nays 19 (House) - 2025-05-02: Conference committee report adopted (House) - 2025-05-02: Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar (House) - 2025-05-02: Second reading, passed, yeas 44 nays 2, Emergency clause carried (Senate) - 2025-05-02: Conference committee report adopted (Senate) - 2025-05-02: Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar (Senate) - 2025-04-24: Conference committee appointed Louser Martinson Hanson (House) - 2025-04-17: Appoint Sen. Mathern to replace Sen. Cleary on conference committee (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Conference committee appointed Dever Cleary Davison (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Refused to concur (Senate) - 2025-04-14: Returned to Senate (12) (Senate) - 2025-04-14: Emergency clause carried (House) - 2025-04-14: Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 65 nays 29 (House) - 2025-04-14: Amendment adopted, placed on calendar (House) - 2025-04-11: Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 19 3 1 (House) - 2025-03-18: Committee Hearing 09:00 (House) - 2025-02-18: Introduced, first reading, referred Appropriations Committee (House) - 2025-02-12: Received from Senate (House) - 2025-02-11: Second reading, passed, yeas 25 nays 21 (Senate) - 2025-02-10: Amendment adopted, placed on calendar (Senate) - 2025-02-07: Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 9 6 1 (Senate) - 2025-01-14: Committee Hearing 10:00 (Senate) - 2025-01-07: Introduced, first reading, referred Appropriations Committee (Senate) ## Bill text - Enrollment: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-05000.pdf) - FIRST ENGROSSMENT: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-02000.pdf) - FIRST ENGROSSMENT with Conference Committee Amendments: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-04000.pdf) - FIRST ENGROSSMENT with House Amendments: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-03000.pdf) - INTRODUCED: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-01000.pdf) - Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for House Appropriations Committee: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-02007m.pdf) - Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division Committee: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-01001m.pdf) - Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Mathern: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-02022m.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 - [Enrollment (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-05000.pdf) - [FIRST ENGROSSMENT (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-02000.pdf) - [FIRST ENGROSSMENT with Conference Committee Amendments (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-04000.pdf) - [FIRST ENGROSSMENT with House Amendments (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-03000.pdf) - [INTRODUCED (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-01000.pdf) - [Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for House Appropriations Committee (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-02007m.pdf) - [Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division Committee (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-01001m.pdf) - [Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Mathern (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0171-02022m.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) - [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-SB2004-202501 (as of 2026-10-18).