SB 2284 North Dakota Senate · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 14-15-16 and 23-02.1-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to disclosure of information in adoption proceedings and access to birth records.

SB 2284 would amend North Dakota adoption laws to improve access to birth records for adopted individuals and their biological relatives. It allows adopted adults aged 18+ to request identifying information about their biological parents or siblings, and permits biological parents (once the adopted person turns 21) or biological siblings to request information about the adopted person. Agencies must make reasonable efforts to notify relevant parties and handle requests within 90 days, requiring consent before disclosing identifying information. Nonidentifying information, such as medical history, would also be available to adoptive parents, adopted adults, and birth parents upon written request and payment of a reasonable fee.
Bill status failed 2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Failed
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Last action Feb 5, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Feb 5, 2025

How they voted

540
Failed · 2 other
Total votes 47
Feb 5, 2025
D Democratic5
3 Yea 2 Nay
60% Yea
R Republican42
2 Yea 38 Nay 2
90% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Feb 5, 2025
Vote failed
Senate Vote: fail (5-40-2)
senate
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back, do not pass, placed on calendar 7 0 0
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:30
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
upper
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors