SB 2037 North Dakota Senate · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to create and enact three new sections to chapter 27-20.4 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to juvenile court petitions, fitness to proceed in juvenile court proceedings, and collateral consequences the juvenile court may order; to amend and reenact sections 12.1-04.1-01, 12.1-04.1-20, and 12.1-17-01.2, subsection 2 of section 12.1-17-07.2, section 12.1-20-01, subsections 2 and 6 of section 12.1-31-03, sections 12.1-32-15 and 15.1-09-33.4, subsection 6 of section 27-20.2-01, subsection 3 of section 27-20.2-09, subsection 5 of section 27-20.4-11, subsection 1 of section 27-20.4-18, subsection 1 of section 27-20.4-20, and section 62.1-02-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to lack of criminal responsibility, court jurisdiction, distribution of intimate images without consent, domestic violence, criminality of a child regarding sex offenses, sale and use of tobacco by an individual under the age of twenty-one, child registration requirements, restitution, probation of a delinquent child, extracurricular activities for students, and persons not allowed to possess a firearm; to repeal sections 27-20.4-12, 27-20.4-13, and 27-20.4-19 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to delinquency; to provide an appropriation; and to provide a penalty.

Summary
Relating to juvenile court petitions, fitness to proceed in juvenile court proceedings, and collateral consequences the juvenile court may order; to amend and reenact sections 12.1‑04.1‑01, 12.1‑04.1‑20, and 12.1‑17‑01.2, subsection 2 of section 12.1‑17‑07.2, section 12.1‑20‑01, subsections 2 and 6 of section 12.1‑31‑03, sections 12.1‑32‑15 and 15.1‑09‑33.4, subsection 6 of section 27‑20.2‑01, subsection 3 of section 27‑20.2‑09, subsection 5 of section 27‑20.4‑11, subsection 1 of section 27‑20.4‑18, subsection 1 of section 27‑20.4‑20, and section 62.1‑02‑01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to lack of criminal responsibility, court jurisdiction, distribution of intimate images without consent, domestic violence, criminality of a child regarding sex offenses, sale and use of tobacco by an individual under the age of twenty‑one, child registration requirements, restitution, probation of a delinquent child, extracurricular activities for students, and persons not allowed to possess a firearm; to repeal sections 27‑20.4‑12, 27‑20.4‑13, and 27‑20.4‑19 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to delinquency; to provide an appropriation; and to provide a penalty.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Signed Apr 23, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SECOND ENGROSSMENT Enrollment · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates North Dakota's juvenile justice and criminal responsibility laws, clarifying when minors can be held criminally responsible and how courts handle cases involving mental illness, domestic violence, and intimate image distribution. The changes modernize legal standards for juvenile proceedings and ensure consistency across related criminal statutes.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of juvenile court jurisdiction and modifies eligibility criteria for criminal responsibility assessments, particularly for individuals aged ten and older, while updating domestic violence and intimate image distribution laws to include minors in specific circumstances.
ELIGIBILITY

Criminal responsibility assessments can now be conducted for individuals aged ten years or older, clarifying the minimum age threshold for mental illness defenses in criminal cases.

REQUIREMENT

Domestic violence provisions now explicitly apply to individuals under eighteen when the victim is in a dating relationship or they share a child, closing a previous gap in protection for minors.

Jurisdiction over individuals found not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility is standardized, with juvenile cases limited to one year of court jurisdiction unless involuntary commitment proceedings are initiated.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'child in need of protection' was updated to reference chapter 27-20.3, ensuring consistency with current child welfare statutes.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and numbering corrections were made to align section references and improve clarity throughout the bill text.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2025 · House Apr 10, 2025

How they voted

451
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 47
Apr 15, 2025
D Democratic5
5 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican42
40 Yea 1 Nay 1
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
16
Committee
9
Apr 24, 2025
Introduced
Filed with Secretary Of State 04/22
legislature
Apr 23, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor 04/21
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 45 nays 1
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Concurred
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 66 nays 26
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 17 4 2
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Committee
Rereferred to Appropriations
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 8 5 1
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:00
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 0
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 16 0 0
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Rereferred to Appropriations
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
upper
Jan 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 7 0 0
upper
Jan 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:30
upper
Jan 7, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.