SB 2196 North Dakota Senate · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 3 of section 15.1-19-16 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to student self-administration of asthma or anaphylaxis medication.

SB 2196 amends North Dakota law to allow students with asthma or anaphylaxis to self-administer their prescribed medication (like inhalers or epinephrine auto-injectors) at school without requiring a nurse or staff member to be present. This directly affects students diagnosed with these conditions and their school staff, who must follow updated protocols. The key provision clarifies that schools must permit students to carry and use their own medication during school hours and school activities, provided it is prescribed and stored properly. The change updates existing school health policies to align with current medical guidelines for student safety.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Jan 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed Mar 31, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

INTRODUCED Enrollment · 1 edit
MINOR
This bill clarifies the definition of 'emergency medication' in North Dakota law to explicitly include inhalers for asthma and epinephrine autoinjectors for allergic reactions. The change ensures these specific devices are legally recognized when students self-administer emergency medication in schools, removing ambiguity about what qualifies under the existing statute.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on student self-administration of emergency medication in schools, but the definition of covered medications was expanded to be more explicit.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'emergency medication' was updated to explicitly include prescription inhalers for asthma and epinephrine autoinjectors for life-threatening allergic reactions, clarifying what devices are covered under the student self-administration law.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 22, 2025 · House Mar 21, 2025

How they voted

470
Passed
Total votes 47
Jan 22, 2025
D Democratic5
5 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican42
42 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Apr 1, 2025
Introduced
Filed with Secretary Of State 03/31
legislature
Mar 31, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor 03/28
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 83 nays 0
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 10 0 3
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 03:20
lower
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 47 nays 0
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 6 0 0
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:30
upper
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee
upper
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors