# North Dakota SB 2029: AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 30.1-28-07 and chapter 54-68 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to an office of guardianship and conservatorship and the removal of a guardian; to amend and reenact section 30.1-29-15 and subsection 1 of section 50-24.1-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the removal of a conservator and the recovery of medical assistance expenses; to repeal chapter 27-27 and section 54-68-02.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the task force on guardianship monitoring and transition requirements; to provide a penalty; to provide for a report; to provide an appropriation; to provide a continuing appropriation; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date.

North Dakota SB 2029, AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 30.1-28-07 and chapter 54-68 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to an office of guardianship and conservatorship and the removal of a guardian; to amend and reenact section 30.1-29-15 and subsection 1 of section 50-24.1-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the removal of a conservator and the recovery of medical assistance expenses; to repeal chapter 27-27 and section 54-68-02.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the task force on guardianship monitoring and transition requirements; to provide a penalty; to provide for a report; to provide an appropriation; to provide a continuing appropriation; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Legislative Management; status signed, last action 2025-06-11 (Filed with Secretary Of State 05/02); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-SB2029-202501
- 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 2029
- State: North Dakota
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 30.1-28-07 and chapter 54-68 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to an office of guardianship and conservatorship and the removal of a guardian; to amend and reenact section 30.1-29-15 and subsection 1 of section 50-24.1-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the removal of a conservator and the recovery of medical assistance expenses; to repeal chapter 27-27 and section 54-68-02.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the task force on guardianship monitoring and transition requirements; to provide a penalty; to provide for a report; to provide an appropriation; to provide a continuing appropriation; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-06-11, Filed with Secretary Of State 05/02
- Sponsor: Legislative Management
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 4 (247 yes, 29 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 9

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More estate money for funeral costs: benefit, low. For estates covered by North Dakota medical assistance recovery, up to $3,500 in funeral costs takes priority over recovery. That raises the previous $3,000 allowance by $500.
- State funds new guardianship office: benefit, low. The state provides $1.2 million and authorizes four full-time positions for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Beginning July 1, 2025, an authorized attorney position transfers from the Senate Bill 2002 office budget line. Remaining authorized positions transfer as caseload permits, no later than…
- New office oversees guardianship services: benefit, low. North Dakota creates an independent Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship and ends the prior guardianship monitoring task force. The office sets public service eligibility, ethical standards, and monitoring rules, and may provide training and distribute public service funding. Initial operatio…
- Public guardians face limits serving minors: cost, medium. Public guardians and public conservators cannot serve a minor unless a proceeding under section 30.1-28-03.3 authorizes the services. This limits when families can obtain these public services for children.
- Guardians face new licensing rules: cost, medium. A person needs a license or agency permit to serve three or more adults at once, except for family-member appointments. Offering guardianship or conservatorship services to the public requires a license. Agency permits let employees serve as agents of professional providers. Specified federal and s…
- Guardianship privacy protections carry felony penalties: mixed, medium. Identifying information about providers, complainants, applicants, and service recipients, along with related reports, is confidential. Disclosures are allowed for program administration or when authorized or required by law or administrative or court rules. The office may share information with cr…
- Guardianship costs can reduce family estates: mixed, medium. The guardianship office has a preferred estate claim for care costs it paid for a person or their spouse. This can leave less money for heirs; recovered money goes to the state general fund. Payment cannot be required, and interest cannot accrue, while the deceased person's surviving spouse is aliv…
- Guardianship fund adds support and fees: mixed, low. A new support fund pays for guardianship and conservatorship services, including training, monitoring, direct payments, and expense reimbursements. Its money remains available to the office without a new appropriation each budget period. The fund accepts legislative transfers, interest, donations,…
- Stronger guardian oversight adds legal duties: mixed, low. The office may suspend or revoke licenses, and a review board may impose sanctions. Investigation counsel may investigate noncompliance reported after April 1, 2026, using interviews, records, subpoenas, and depositions. Government agencies and specified court personnel must help unless federal law…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Legislative Management

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-28 | House | Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 91 nays 0 | pass | 91 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-25 | Senate | Second reading, passed, yeas 40 nays 5 | pass | 40 | 5 |   |
| 2025-04-21 | House | Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 92 nays 1 | pass | 92 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-21 | Senate | Second reading, passed, yeas 24 nays 23 | pass | 24 | 23 |   |

## Actions (35)

- 2025-06-11: Filed with Secretary Of State 05/02 (House)
- 2025-05-02: Signed by Governor 05/02 (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-04-28: Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 91 nays 0 (House)
- 2025-04-28: Conference committee report adopted (House)
- 2025-04-25: Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar (House)
- 2025-04-25: Second reading, passed, yeas 40 nays 5 (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Conference committee report adopted (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: Conference committee appointed Frelich Hendrix Hanson (House)
- 2025-04-22: Conference committee appointed Paulson Myrdal Braunberger (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Refused to concur (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Returned to Senate (12) (Senate)
- 2025-04-21: Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 92 nays 1 (House)
- 2025-04-18: Amendment adopted, placed on calendar (House)
- 2025-04-17: Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 22 0 1 (House)
- 2025-04-04: Rereferred to Appropriations (House)
- 2025-04-04: Amendment adopted (House)
- 2025-04-03: Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 10 2 1 (House)
- 2025-03-18: Committee Hearing 02:30 (House)
- 2025-03-10: Committee Hearing 09:00 (House)
- 2025-02-25: Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee (House)
- 2025-02-24: Received from Senate (House)
- 2025-02-21: Second reading, passed, yeas 24 nays 23 (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: Amendment adopted, placed on calendar (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 10 6 0 (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: Rereferred to Appropriations (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: Amendment adopted, placed on calendar (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 7 0 0 (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Committee Hearing 08:00 (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Committee Hearing 03:00 (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Committee Hearing 11:30 (Senate)
- 2025-01-07: Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enrollment: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-08000.pdf)
- FIRST ENGROSSMENT: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-03000.pdf)
- INTRODUCED: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-02000.pdf)
- Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Frelich: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-04006m.pdf), [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-04010m.pdf)
- Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Hanson: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-04008m.pdf)
- Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Committee: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-03001m.pdf)
- Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Paulson: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-02002m.pdf)
- SECOND ENGROSSMENT: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-04000.pdf)
- SECOND ENGROSSMENT with Conference Committee Amendments: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-07000.pdf)
- SECOND ENGROSSMENT with House Amendments: [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-05000.pdf), [PDF](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-06000.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/25-0224-08000.pdf)
- [FIRST ENGROSSMENT (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-03000.pdf)
- [INTRODUCED (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-02000.pdf)
- [Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Frelich (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-04006m.pdf)
- [Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Frelich (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-04010m.pdf)
- [Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Hanson (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-04008m.pdf)
- [Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Committee (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-03001m.pdf)
- [Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Paulson (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-02002m.pdf)
- [SECOND ENGROSSMENT (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-04000.pdf)
- [SECOND ENGROSSMENT with Conference Committee Amendments (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-07000.pdf)
- [SECOND ENGROSSMENT with House Amendments (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-05000.pdf)
- [SECOND ENGROSSMENT with House Amendments (PDF)](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/documents/25-0224-06000.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ND-SB2029-202501 (as of 2026-10-18).