HB 1356 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to access to requests to the legislative council made by members of the legislative assembly.

HB 1356 modifies North Dakota's open records law to clarify what legislative records cannot be disclosed under public access rules. It protects personal communications between lawmakers and the legislative council, legislative work product, and private phone records from disclosure. However, it specifically allows disclosure of bill draft or resolution requests made by legislators to their caucus leaders. The bill directly affects legislators and legislative staff by defining boundaries for sharing internal legislative communications.

Bill status passed 2 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Failed

Feb 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Feb 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

INTRODUCED → FIRST ENGROSSMENT · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill changed from amending an existing section about legislative records to creating a new section that specifically governs how the legislative council handles requests for draft bills or resolutions. This shift narrows the focus from broad record-keeping exemptions to a targeted disclosure process for legislative assistance requests.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from amending section 44-04-18.6 (general legislative records) to creating a new section in chapter 54-03 (specifically addressing legislative council requests for bill drafts).

SCOPE

Changed from amending existing record exemption laws to creating a new, specific disclosure rule for legislative council requests.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that legislative council must disclose request topics and requester names to caucus leaders, with an option for members to maintain confidentiality.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed broader exemptions for personal records, work product, and communications that were previously protected under section 44-04-18.6.

DEFINITION

Established new terminology around 'caucus leader' and 'political faction' in the context of legislative assistance requests.

Floor votes · House Feb 19, 2025

How they voted

39–52

Failed

Total votes 91

Feb 19, 2025

D Democratic11

9 Yea 2 Nay

81% Yea

R Republican80

30 Yea 50 Nay

62% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 19, 2025

Vote failed

House Vote: fail (39-52)

house

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back amended, do not pass, placed on calendar 6 4 4

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 02:30

lower

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs Committee

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors