HB 1601 — Relating to special assistant attorneys general.
Last action — Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 9 nays 37
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 20, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.
Odds of enactment
Moderate chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Passed House
Current position in the legislative process.
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7 sponsors
1 primary, 6 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 R).
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Mixed recorded votes
1 passed, 1 failed in 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
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 54-12-08 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to special assistant attorneys general.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
53 added · 62 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to Bill HB 1601 clarify the process for hiring special assistant attorneys general by various state agencies, such as the agriculture and insurance commissioners. Importantly, the attorney general is now required to appoint these attorneys when requested by the agencies, unless there is a valid reason not to do so, like issues with their experience or ethics. This change aims to ensure that these agencies have access to qualified legal representation while maintaining accountability in the appointment process.
25.1289.0200425.1289.02000 Adopted by the Senate State and Local Title.03000 Government Committee April 10, 2025 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO FIRST ENGROSSMENT ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO.
1601 Introduced by Representatives O'Brien, McLeod, Satrom, Nelson, Bahl Senators Lee, Roers A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 54-12-08 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to special assistant attorney generalsattorneysgenerals. general.
Workforce safety and insurance, the department of transportation, the state tax commissioner, the public service commission, the ethics commission, the insurance commissioner, the agriculture commissioner, and the securities Pagecommissioner No.may employ attorneys to represent them.
1 25.1289.02004 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly commissioner may employ attorneys to represent them.
c.Page No.
1 25.1289.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly c.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, if an attorney is employed by the governor, state auditor, or ethics commission, the attorney general may not:
a.
Refuse to appoint the attorney as a special assistant attorney general upon request from the entity;
or b.
Revoke the appointment as special assistant attorney general absent good cause and upon the request of the entity.
The powers conferred upon special assistant attorneys general are the same as are exercised by the regular assistant attorneys general, unless the powers are limited Pagespecifically No.by the terms of the appointment.
2 25.1289.02004 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly specifically by the terms of the appointment.
Moneys received by the attorney general in payment for legal servicesPage renderedNo. must be deposited into the attorney general's operating fund.
2 25.1289.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly services rendered must be deposited into the attorney general's operating fund.
3 25.1289.0200425.1289.02000
View plain text versions (5)
- Engrossed FIRST ENGROSSMENT Current pdf
- Adopted by the Senate State and Local Government Committee View text pdf
- Adopted by the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee View text pdf
- Amended FIRST ENGROSSMENT with Senate Amendments pdf
- Introduced View text pdf
Action History
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Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 9 nays 37
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Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
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Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 0 0
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Committee Hearing 10:00
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Introduced, first reading, referred State and Local Government Committee
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Received from House
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Second reading, passed, yeas 80 nays 10
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Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
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Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 11 2 0
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Committee Hearing 08:30
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Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs Committee
Sponsors
- Emily O'Brien · Primary
- Landon Bahl · Cosponsor
- Carrie McLeod · Cosponsor
- Jon O. Nelson · Cosponsor
- Bernie Satrom · Cosponsor
- Judy Sen. Lee · Cosponsor
- Jim P. Roers · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 6 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on · 46 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- O'Brien, Emily Republican
Co-sponsors (6)
- Bahl, Landon Republican
- McLeod, Carrie Republican
- Nelson, Jon O. Republican
- Satrom, Bernie Republican
- Sen. Lee, Judy
- Jim P. Roers
Not signed on (141)
141 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 141 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 5 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 37 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 19% | 79% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (47)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| van Oosting | — | Nay |
| Boschee, Josh | Democratic | Yea |
| Braunberger, Ryan | Democratic | Yea |
| Hogan, Kathy | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Marcellais, Richard | Democratic | Yea |
| Mathern, Tim | Democratic | Yea |
| Axtman, Michelle | Republican | Nay |
| Barta, Jeff | Republican | Yea |
| Beard, Todd | Republican | Nay |
| Bekkedahl, Brad | Republican | Nay |
| Boehm, Keith | Republican | Nay |
| Burckhard, Randy A. | Republican | Nay |
| Castaneda, Jose L. | Republican | Yea |
| Cleary, Sean | Republican | Nay |
| Clemens, David A. | Republican | Nay |
| Conley, Cole | Republican | Nay |
| Cory, Claire | Republican | Nay |
| Davison, Kyle | Republican | Nay |
| Dever, Dick | Republican | Nay |
| Dwyer, Michael | Republican | Nay |
| Enget, Mark | Republican | Nay |
| Erbele, Robert | Republican | Nay |
| Gerhardt, Justin | Republican | Nay |
| Hogue, David | Republican | Yea |
| Kessel, Greg | Republican | Nay |
| Klein, Jerry | Republican | Nay |
| Larson, Diane | Republican | Nay |
| Lee, Judy | Republican | Nay |
| Lemm, Randy D. | Republican | Nay |
| Luick, Larry | Republican | Nay |
| Magrum, Jeffery J. | Republican | Nay |
| Meyer, Scott | Republican | Yea |
| Myrdal, Janne | Republican | Nay |
| Patten, Dale | Republican | Nay |
| Paulson, Bob | Republican | Nay |
| Powers, Michelle | Republican | Nay |
| Roers, Kristin | Republican | Yea |
| Rummel, Dean | Republican | Nay |
| Schaible, Donald | Republican | Nay |
| Sickler, Jonathan | Republican | Nay |
| Sorvaag, Ronald | Republican | Nay |
| Thomas, Paul J. | Republican | Nay |
| Walen, Chuck | Republican | Nay |
| Wanzek, Terry M. | Republican | Nay |
| Weber, Mark F. | Republican | Nay |
| Weston, Kent | Republican | Nay |
| Wobbema, Mike | Republican | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 70 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 80 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 86% | 11% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (93)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Olson | — | Yea |
| Brown, Collette | Democratic | Nay |
| 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 | Not Voting |
| 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 | Nay |
| Bolinske, Macy | Republican | Yea |
| Bosch, Glenn | Republican | Yea |
| Brandenburg, Mike | 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Kasper, Jim | Republican | Not Voting |
| Kempenich, Keith | Republican | Nay |
| Kiefert, Dwight | Republican | Yea |
| Klemin, Lawrence R. | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Nehring, Dennis | Republican | Yea |
| Nelson, Jon O. | Republican | Yea |
| Novak, Anna S. | Republican | Not Voting |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| VanWinkle, Lori | Republican | Yea |
| Vetter, Steve | Republican | Yea |
| Vigesaa, Don | Republican | Nay |
| Vollmer, Daniel R. | Republican | Yea |
| Wagner, Scott | Republican | Yea |
| Warrey, Jonathan | Republican | Yea |
| Weisz, Robin | Republican | Yea |
| Wolff, Christina | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 1601 do?
- A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 54-12-08 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to special assistant attorneys general.
- Who sponsors HB 1601?
- HB 1601 is sponsored by O'Brien, Emily (Republican), Bahl, Landon (Republican), McLeod, Carrie (Republican), Nelson, Jon O. (Republican), Satrom, Bernie (Republican), Sen. Lee, Judy, and Jim P. Roers.
- What is the current status of HB 1601?
- This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 20, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track HB 1601?
- Track HB 1601 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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