North Dakota 69-2025 Assembly Status: Enacted 4 R cosponsors

HB 1166 — Relating to closing certain criminal records; and to amend and reenact sections 12‑60.1‑01 and 12‑60.1‑02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to closed records and grounds to file a petition to seal a criminal record.

Last action — Filed with Secretary Of State 04/22

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong (Republican) on April 23, 2025.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (4 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 12-60.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to closing certain criminal records; and to amend and reenact sections 12-60.1-01 and 12-60.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to closed records and grounds to file a petition to seal a criminal record.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

90 added · 46 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of House Bill No. 1166 has clarified and expanded the definitions related to closed criminal records in North Dakota. It specifies who may access these records, emphasizing protection while defining what constitutes a "court record." These changes matter because they help ensure that individuals can have their criminal records sealed under certain circumstances, enhancing their ability to reintegrate into society without the stigma of past offenses.

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25.0400.04000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota FIRST ENGROSSMENT ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO.
Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota In Regular Session Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025 HOUSE BILL NO.
1166 Introduced by Representatives Pyle, O'Brien, Vetter, Berg Senators Larson, Myrdal A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 12-60.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to sealing certain criminal records;
1166 (Representatives Pyle, O'Brien, Vetter, Berg) (Senators Larson, Myrdal) AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 12-60.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to closing certain criminal records;
to amend and reenact section 12-60.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to grounds to file a petition to seal a criminal record;
and to amend and reenact sections 12-60.1-01 and 12-60.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to closed records and grounds to file a petition to seal a criminal record.
and to declare an emergency.
Section 12-60.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is amended and reenacted as follows:
12-60.1-01.
Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
1.
"Closed" means subject to examination only by a clerk of court, a judge of the court, the juvenile commission, a criminal justice agency, the defendant, the defendant's counsel, a state's attorney, or any person upon written order of a judge of the court.
2.
"Court record" includes:
a.
Any document or information collected, received, or maintained by court personnel in connection with a judicial proceeding;
b.
Any index, calendar, docket, register of actions, official record of the proceedings, order, decree, judgment, minute, and any information in a case management system created or prepared by court personnel relating to a judicial proceeding;
and c.
Information maintained by court personnel pertaining to the administration of the court or clerk of court office and not associated with a particular case.
2.3.
"Criminal justice agency" has the same meaning as in section 12-60-16.1.
4.
"Criminal record" means court and prosecution records subject to sealing under this chapter.
A criminal record does not include criminal history record information as defined in subsection 5 of section 12-60-16.1 or criminal justice data information maintained in the criminal justice data information sharing system under section 54-12-34.
3.5.
"Prosecutor" means the office or agency with jurisdiction over the offense for purposes of postconviction proceedings.
4.6.
"Nonconviction" means dismissal of all criminal charges in a case or acquittal of all criminal charges in a case.
7.
"Seal" means to prohibit the disclosure of the existence or contents of court or prosecution records unless authorized by court order.
SECTION 2.
AMENDMENT.
12-60.1-02.
H.
B.
NO.
1166 - PAGE 2 12-60.1-02.
The individual pled guilty to or was found guilty of a felony offense and the individual has not been convicted of a new crime for at least five years before filing the petition.
The individual pled guilty to or was found guilty of a felony offense and the individual has not been convicted of a new crime for at least five years before filing the petition;
or c.
The individual was granted an unconditional pardon of the criminal conviction by the governor.
ThisExcept as provided under section 2 of this Act, this chapter does not apply to:
ThisExcept as provided under section 3 of this Act, this chapter does not apply to:
Page No.
SECTION 3.
Show all 69 changed rows (29 more)
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1 25.0400.04000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly SECTION 2.
Certain criminal records automatically sealed.
Closing nonconviction records.
The court shall seal any criminal record wherein:
If a court enters an order of nonconviction on or after August 1, 2025, the court shall close the court record upon the expiration of sixty-one days.
2.
The defendant may file a petition to the court to have the court record closed if the court entered an order of nonconviction for a case disposed of before August 1, 2025.
If the defendant meets the requirements of this section, the court shall enter an order closing the court record within ten days of the petition being filed.
3.
This section does not apply if:
An individual was found not guilty by a jury or at the conclusion of a bench trial;
The dismissal was the result of a plea agreement involving a conviction on another offense;
All criminal charges were dismissed;
The case was dismissed due to a finding the individual was not fit to proceed under chapter 12.1-04;
or c.
c.
An individual was granted a pardon by the governor of the criminal conviction.
The case resulted in a verdict of not guilty due to a lack of criminal responsibility under chapter 12.1-04.1;
2.
or d.
The court shall seal a criminal record under subsection 1 within ninety days after the judgment of acquittal, order to dismiss, or pardon was filed with the clerk of court.
The case was appealed.
A record of a closed criminal case if there was no conviction may not be remotely accessed by a name search.
4.
SECTION 3.
A filing fee may not be charged for a petition filed under this section.
EMERGENCY.
H.
This Act is declared to be an emergency measure.
B.
Page No.
NO.
2 25.0400.04000
1166 - PAGE 3 ____________________________ ____________________________ Speaker of the House President of the Senate ____________________________ ____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Secretary of the Senate This certifies that the within bill originated in the House of Representatives of the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota and is known on the records of that body as House Bill No.
1166.
House Vote:
Yeas 92 Nays 1 Absent 1 Senate Vote:
Yeas 46 Nays 0 Absent 1 ____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Received by the Governor at ________M.
on _____________________________________, 2025.
Approved at ________M.
on __________________________________________________, 2025.
____________________________ Governor Filed in this office this ___________day of _______________________________________, 2025, at ________ o’clock ________M.
____________________________ Secretary of State
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Action History

  1. Filed with Secretary Of State 04/22

  2. Signed by Governor 04/21

  3. Sent to Governor

  4. Signed by Speaker

  5. Signed by President

  6. Second reading, passed, yeas 92 nays 1

  7. Concurred

  8. Returned to House (12)

  9. Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 46 nays 0

  10. Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

  11. Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 7 0 0

  12. Committee Hearing 11:00

  13. Introduced, first reading, (emergency), referred Judiciary Committee

  14. Received from House

  15. Second reading, passed, yeas 90 nays 0, Emergency clause carried

  16. Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

  17. Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 11 0 3

  18. Committee Hearing 09:00

  19. Introduced, first reading, (emergency), referred Judiciary Committee

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 142 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (142)

142 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 142 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Final Passage

Passed 92 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11000
Republican 80101
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 92101
% of votes cast 98%1%0%1%
How each member voted (94)
Member Party Vote
Olson — Yea
Brown, Collette Democratic Yea
Conmy, Liz Democratic Yea
Davis, Jayme Democratic Yea
Dobervich, Gretchen Democratic Yea
Finley-DeVille, Lisa Democratic Yea
Foss, Austin Democratic Yea
Hager, LaurieBeth Democratic Yea
Hanson, Karla Rose Democratic Yea
Ista, Zachary Democratic Yea
Mitskog, Alisa Democratic Yea
Schneider, Mary Democratic Yea
Anderson, Bert Republican Yea
Anderson, Dick Republican Yea
Anderson, Karen A. Republican Yea
Bahl, Landon Republican Yea
Beltz, Mike Republican Yea
Berg, Mike Republican Yea
Bolinske, Macy Republican Yea
Bosch, Glenn Republican Yea
Brandenburg, Mike Republican Yea
Brown, TJ Republican Yea
Christianson, Nels Republican Yea
Dockter, Jason Republican Yea
Dressler, Ty Republican Yea
Fegley, Clayton Republican Yea
Fisher, Jay Republican Yea
Frelich, Kathy Republican Yea
Grindberg, Karen Republican Yea
Grueneich, Jim Republican Yea
Hagert, Jared C. Republican Yea
Hatlestad, Patrick R. Republican Yea
Hauck, Dori Republican Yea
Headland, Craig Republican Yea
Heilman, Matthew Republican Yea
Heinert, Pat D. Republican Yea
Henderson, Donna Republican Yea
Hendrix, Jared Republican Yea
Holle, Dawson Republican Yea
Hoverson, Jeff Republican Yea
Johnson, Jorin Republican Yea
Johnston, Daniel Republican Yea
Jonas, Jim Republican Yea
Karls, Karen Republican Yea
Kasper, Jim Republican Nay
Kempenich, Keith Republican Yea
Kiefert, Dwight Republican Yea
Klemin, Lawrence R. Republican Yea
Koppelman, Ben Republican Yea
Lefor, Mike Republican Yea
Longmuir, Donald W. Republican Yea
Louser, Scott Republican Yea
Maki, Roger A. Republican Yea
Marschall, Andrew Republican Yea
Martinson, Bob Republican Yea
McLeod, Carrie Republican Yea
Meier, Lisa Republican Yea
Monson, David Republican Yea
Morton, Desiree Republican Yea
Motschenbacher, Mike Republican Yea
Murphy, Eric J. Republican Yea
Nathe, Mike Republican Yea
Nehring, Dennis Republican Yea
Nelson, Jon O. Republican Yea
Novak, Anna S. Republican Yea
O'Brien, Emily Republican Yea
Olson, Jeremy Republican Yea
Osowski, Doug Republican Yea
Ostlie, Mitch Republican Yea
Porter, Todd Republican Yea
Pyle, Brandy L. Republican Yea
Richter, David Republican Yea
Rios, Nico Republican Yea
Rohr, Karen M. Republican Yea
Ruby, Dan Republican Yea
Ruby, Matthew Republican Yea
Sanford, Mark Republican Yea
Satrom, Bernie Republican Yea
Schatz, Mike Republican Yea
Schauer, Austen Republican Yea
Schreiber-Beck, Cynthia Republican Yea
Steiner, Vicky Republican Yea
Stemen, Gregory Republican Yea
Swiontek, Steve Republican Not Voting
Toman, Nathan Republican Yea
Tveit, Bill Republican Yea
VanWinkle, Lori Republican Yea
Vetter, Steve Republican Yea
Vigesaa, Don Republican Yea
Vollmer, Daniel R. Republican Yea
Wagner, Scott Republican Yea
Warrey, Jonathan Republican Yea
Weisz, Robin Republican Yea
Wolff, Christina Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Final Passage

Passed 46 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
Republican 40001
Democratic 5000
Total 46001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (47)
Member Party Vote
van Oosting — Yea
Boschee, Josh Democratic Yea
Braunberger, Ryan Democratic Yea
Hogan, Kathy Democratic Yea
Marcellais, Richard Democratic Yea
Mathern, Tim Democratic Yea
Axtman, Michelle Republican Yea
Barta, Jeff Republican Yea
Beard, Todd Republican Yea
Bekkedahl, Brad Republican Yea
Boehm, Keith Republican Yea
Burckhard, Randy A. Republican Yea
Castaneda, Jose L. Republican Yea
Cleary, Sean Republican Yea
Clemens, David A. Republican Yea
Conley, Cole Republican Yea
Cory, Claire Republican Yea
Davison, Kyle Republican Yea
Dever, Dick Republican Yea
Dwyer, Michael Republican Yea
Enget, Mark Republican Yea
Erbele, Robert Republican Yea
Gerhardt, Justin Republican Yea
Hogue, David Republican Yea
Kessel, Greg Republican Yea
Klein, Jerry Republican Yea
Larson, Diane Republican Yea
Lee, Judy Republican Yea
Lemm, Randy D. Republican Yea
Luick, Larry Republican Yea
Magrum, Jeffery J. Republican Yea
Meyer, Scott Republican Yea
Myrdal, Janne Republican Yea
Patten, Dale Republican Yea
Paulson, Bob Republican Yea
Powers, Michelle Republican Yea
Roers, Kristin Republican Yea
Rummel, Dean Republican Not Voting
Schaible, Donald Republican Yea
Sickler, Jonathan Republican Yea
Sorvaag, Ronald Republican Yea
Thomas, Paul J. Republican Yea
Walen, Chuck Republican Yea
Wanzek, Terry M. Republican Yea
Weber, Mark F. Republican Yea
Weston, Kent Republican Yea
Wobbema, Mike Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Final Passage

Passed 90 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 78004
Democratic 11000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 90004
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
How each member voted (94)
Member Party Vote
Olson — Yea
Brown, Collette Democratic Yea
Conmy, Liz Democratic Yea
Davis, Jayme Democratic Yea
Dobervich, Gretchen Democratic Yea
Finley-DeVille, Lisa Democratic Yea
Foss, Austin Democratic Yea
Hager, LaurieBeth Democratic Yea
Hanson, Karla Rose Democratic Yea
Ista, Zachary Democratic Yea
Mitskog, Alisa Democratic Yea
Schneider, Mary Democratic Yea
Anderson, Bert Republican Yea
Anderson, Dick Republican Not Voting
Anderson, Karen A. Republican Yea
Bahl, Landon Republican Yea
Beltz, Mike Republican Yea
Berg, Mike Republican Yea
Bolinske, Macy Republican Yea
Bosch, Glenn Republican Yea
Brandenburg, Mike Republican Yea
Christianson, Nels Republican Yea
Christy, Josh Republican Yea
Dockter, Jason Republican Yea
Dressler, Ty Republican Yea
Fegley, Clayton Republican Yea
Fisher, Jay Republican Yea
Frelich, Kathy Republican Yea
Grindberg, Karen Republican Yea
Grueneich, Jim Republican Yea
Hagert, Jared C. Republican Yea
Hatlestad, Patrick R. Republican Yea
Hauck, Dori Republican Yea
Headland, Craig Republican Not Voting
Heilman, Matthew Republican Yea
Heinert, Pat D. Republican Not Voting
Henderson, Donna Republican Yea
Hendrix, Jared Republican Yea
Holle, Dawson Republican Yea
Hoverson, Jeff Republican Yea
Johnson, Jorin Republican Yea
Johnston, Daniel Republican Yea
Jonas, Jim Republican Yea
Karls, Karen Republican Yea
Kasper, Jim Republican Yea
Kempenich, Keith Republican Not Voting
Kiefert, Dwight Republican Yea
Klemin, Lawrence R. Republican Yea
Koppelman, Ben Republican Yea
Lefor, Mike Republican Yea
Longmuir, Donald W. Republican Yea
Louser, Scott Republican Yea
Maki, Roger A. Republican Yea
Marschall, Andrew Republican Yea
Martinson, Bob Republican Yea
McLeod, Carrie Republican Yea
Meier, Lisa Republican Yea
Monson, David Republican Yea
Morton, Desiree Republican Yea
Motschenbacher, Mike Republican Yea
Murphy, Eric J. Republican Yea
Nathe, Mike Republican Yea
Nehring, Dennis Republican Yea
Nelson, Jon O. Republican Yea
Novak, Anna S. Republican Yea
O'Brien, Emily Republican Yea
Olson, Jeremy Republican Yea
Osowski, Doug Republican Yea
Ostlie, Mitch Republican Yea
Porter, Todd Republican Yea
Pyle, Brandy L. Republican Yea
Richter, David Republican Yea
Rios, Nico Republican Yea
Rohr, Karen M. Republican Yea
Ruby, Dan Republican Yea
Ruby, Matthew Republican Yea
Sanford, Mark Republican Yea
Satrom, Bernie Republican Yea
Schatz, Mike Republican Yea
Schauer, Austen Republican Yea
Schreiber-Beck, Cynthia Republican Yea
Steiner, Vicky Republican Yea
Stemen, Gregory Republican Yea
Swiontek, Steve Republican Yea
Toman, Nathan Republican Yea
Tveit, Bill Republican Yea
VanWinkle, Lori Republican Yea
Vetter, Steve Republican Yea
Vigesaa, Don Republican Yea
Vollmer, Daniel R. Republican Yea
Wagner, Scott Republican Yea
Warrey, Jonathan Republican Yea
Weisz, Robin Republican Yea
Wolff, Christina Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1166 do?
AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 12-60.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to closing certain criminal records; and to amend and reenact sections 12-60.1-01 and 12-60.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to closed records and grounds to file a petition to seal a criminal record.
Who sponsors HB 1166?
HB 1166 is sponsored by Sen. Larson, Diane, Sen. Myrdal, Janne, Pyle, Brandy L. (Republican), Berg, Mike (Republican), O'Brien, Emily (Republican), and Vetter, Steve (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 1166?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 1166?
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