All Roll Calls
Yes: 101 • No: 85
North DakotaSB 23072025 Regular SessionSenate
AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 12.1-27.1-01 and two new sections to chapter 12.1-27.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the definition of a public library, required safety policies and technology protection measures, and the state's attorney's review of public libraries, school districts, and state agencies for compliance with statutes protecting minors from explicit sexual material; to amend and reenact subsection 5 of section 12.1-27.1-01, subsection 2 of section 12.1-27.1-03.1, and sections 12.1-27.1-03.5 and 12.1-27.1-11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to obscenity control; to provide for a report to the legislative management; and to provide a penalty.
Sponsored By: Keith Boehm (Republican)
Vetoed
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
K-12 online resources must block explicit content
When schools, state agencies, or public libraries offer K-12 students online library databases, those systems must block or filter explicit sexual material and obscene performances. By January 1, 2026, each must have a written review policy with a way to report flagged items and notice of actions taken. Ongoing problems can be referred to the local state's attorney. Public school libraries and public libraries must send a yearly report by December 1 on provider compliance and complaints. The state library and higher education are not covered by these digital rules.
Libraries must shield minors from explicit material
Public libraries and school districts cannot keep explicit sexual material where minors can easily get it. By January 1, 2026, each must adopt a written collection policy and a reconsideration process, including steps to relocate explicit items. Collections must be age‑appropriate and reviewed on a regular schedule. They must accept and resolve requests to move or remove items. Each must send a compliance report to legislative management by May 1 each year.
Vendors face payment holds for unsafe content
If a provider of K-12 or public library digital resources does not follow the required safety rules, schools, libraries, or agencies must stop paying them until they prove compliance. A late or missing verification counts as a breach of contract. This applies even if the contract says otherwise.
New obscenity standards and library definition
The law updates how obscenity is judged. Courts use a reasonable adult standard, and material made for minors is judged by that audience. Public and school libraries now count as places where minors are invited for public‑nudity limits. A public library is one open to all and funded by taxes. The law also changes some exceptions to say they may not apply, narrowing past safe harbors.
State review and fund holds for violations
After you finish the local review steps, you can ask the local state's attorney to review a possible violation. The state's attorney must issue a written opinion within 60 days. If a violation is found, the library, school district, or agency has 10 days to fix it. If it does not, the state treasurer (for libraries and agencies) or the superintendent (for school districts) will withhold state-allocated funds until it complies, and prosecution may follow.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Keith Boehm
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Vicky Steiner
Republican • House
Bill Tveit
Republican • House
Robert Erbele
Republican • Senate
David Hogue
Republican • Senate
Kent Weston
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/25/2025
Veto sustained, yeas 25 nays 20
Yes: 25 • No: 20
House vote • 4/14/2025
Second reading, passed, yeas 49 nays 45
Yes: 49 • No: 45
Senate vote • 2/20/2025
Second reading, passed, yeas 27 nays 20
Yes: 27 • No: 20
Actions Timeline
Filed with Secretary Of State 04/29
4/29/2025SenateVeto sustained, yeas 25 nays 20
4/25/2025SenateConsideration of Governor's veto
4/25/2025SenateVetoed by Governor 04/22
4/24/2025SenateSent to Governor
4/18/2025SenateSigned by President
4/18/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
4/18/2025HouseReturned to Senate
4/15/2025SenateMotion to reconsider failed
4/15/2025HouseSecond reading, passed, yeas 49 nays 45
4/14/2025HouseReported back, do not pass, placed on calendar 22 1 0
4/11/2025HouseRereferred to Appropriations
3/18/2025HouseReported back, do pass 12 1 1
3/18/2025HouseCommittee Hearing 09:00
3/18/2025HouseIntroduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
2/25/2025HouseReceived from Senate
2/21/2025HouseSecond reading, passed, yeas 27 nays 20
2/20/2025SenateAmendment adopted
2/20/2025SenateAmendment proposed on floor
2/20/2025SenateAmendment adopted, placed on calendar
2/20/2025SenateReported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 1 0
2/19/2025SenateCommittee Hearing 02:30
2/10/2025SenateIntroduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
1/20/2025Senate
Bill Text
Adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee
Enrollment
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
INTRODUCED
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Paulson
SECOND ENGROSSMENT
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 statutory fees for traffic offenses and a motor vehicle owner's responsibility regarding a driver who flees a peace officer; and to provide a penalty.
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 fund; to amend and reenact section 54-40.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to definitions for regional planning councils; to provide an appropriation; and to provide for a transfer.
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, relating to the amount of statutory fees, speed limitations on multilane highways, variable speed limits, alteration of maximum speed limits on state highways, speed zone reduction limitations, and city fines and penalties; to provide for a legislative management report; and to provide a penalty.
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 the financing of health and human services; to amend and reenact section 12.1-04-06, subsection 4 of section 20.1-03-04, sections 25-03.1-03.1 and 25-03.1-04, subsection 3 of section 25-03.1-08, section 25-03.1-10, subsection 3 of section 25-03.1-11, subsection 1 of section 25-03.1-19, subsection 2 of section 25-03.1-26, subdivision b of subsection 2 of section 26.1-36-08, subdivisions c and d of subsection 2 of section 26.1-36-09, subsection 9 of section 43-12.1-04, subsection 6 of section 43-41-02, subdivision b of subsection 1 of section 44-04-18.30, sections 50-06-01, 50-06-01.4, 50-06-01.7, 50-06-05.1, 50-06-05.2, 50-06-05.3, 50-06-05.4, 50-06-05.5, 50-06-06.2, 50-06-06.5, and 50-06-06.13, subsections 1 and 3 of section 50-06-15, sections 50-06-33 and 50-06-41.3, subsection 1 of section 50-06-42, subsection 1 of section 50-06-42.1, and sections 50-06-46, 50-06.2-01, 50-06.2-02, 50-06.2-03, 50-06.3-02, and 50-06.3-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the powers and duties of the department of health and human services, treatment hearing timelines, and membership of the cross-disability advisory council; to provide for a legislative management study; and to provide an expiration date.
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 subsection to section 15-62.5-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to student financial assistance grants, dual-credit tuition scholarships, and the scholars program; to amend and reenact sections 15-10-38.1, 15-10-38.2, 15-63-05, and 15.1-21-02.6 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the skilled workforce student loan repayment and scholarship programs, Native American scholarships, and the North Dakota scholarship; and to provide an appropriation.
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 appropriation to the department of career and technical education; to provide an appropriation to the state fair association; to provide a contingent appropriation; to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-60 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to department of commerce grant reporting requirements; to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 10-30.5-02, sections 54-60-09, 54-60-19, 54-60-28, 54-60-29, 54-60-29.1, and 54-60-31 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the purpose of the North Dakota development fund, duties and talent strategy of the division of workforce development, the uncrewed aircraft systems program, the uncrewed aircraft systems program fund, the beyond visual line of sight uncrewed aircraft system program, and changing the name of the office of legal immigration to the global talent office; to authorize a Bank of North Dakota line of credit; to provide for a transfer; to provide an application; to provide an exemption; and to provide for a legislative management report.