Relating to admission to the bar examination through an apprenticeship program developed, established, and ...
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HB 1609 — Relating to admission to the bar examination through an apprenticeship program developed, established, and implemented by the supreme court.
Last action — Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 20 nays 70
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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2In 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 is in committee in the House. Introduced January 20, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
LowHow often bills like it became law.
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In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
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11 sponsors
1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (8 R).
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Failed a recorded vote
Failed 1 recorded vote so far — a real headwind.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 27-11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to admission to the bar examination through an apprenticeship program developed, established, and implemented by the supreme court.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
20 added · 23 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to House Bill 1609 made a specific change by removing a provision that allowed individuals who served as state legislators for four or more years to qualify for examination by the state board of law examiners. Instead, the focus is solely on verifying engagement through an affidavit from a supervising attorney or tribal advocate, ensuring that applicants must meet the requirement of completing 2,000 hours of engagement. This change matters because it aims to standardize the qualifications for bar admission, emphasizing practical experience in law over legislative service, which could strengthen the legal profession’s competency.
25.0917.0200225.0917.03000 Adopted by the Judiciary Committee Title.03000 February 25, 2025 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota PROPOSEDFIRST AMENDMENTSENGROSSMENT TOENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO.
Pageb. No.
1 25.0917.02002 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly b.
c.Page No.
1 25.0917.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly c.
An applicant for admission to the bar is qualified for examination by the state board of law examiners by serving as a state legislator for four or more years.
f.
2 25.0917.0200225.0917.03000
View plain text versions (3)
- Engrossed FIRST ENGROSSMENT Current pdf
- Adopted by the House Judiciary Committee View text pdf
- Introduced View text pdf
Action History
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Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 20 nays 70
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Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
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Reported back amended, do not pass, amendment placed on calendar 9 4 1
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Committee Hearing 10:30
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Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
Sponsors
- Bob Sen. Paulson · Cosponsor
- Mike Sen. Wobbema · Cosponsor
- Lori VanWinkle · Primary
- Matthew Heilman · Cosponsor
- Jared Hendrix · Cosponsor
- Daniel Johnston · Cosponsor
- Ben Koppelman · Cosponsor
- Desiree Morton · Cosponsor
- Nathan Toman · Cosponsor
- Jose L. Sen. Castaneda · Cosponsor
- Dan Ruby · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 137 not signed on · 68 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- VanWinkle, Lori Republican
Co-sponsors (10)
- Sen. Paulson, Bob
- Sen. Wobbema, Mike
- Heilman, Matthew Republican
- Hendrix, Jared Republican
- Johnston, Daniel Republican
- Koppelman, Ben Republican
- Morton, Desiree Republican
- Toman, Nathan Republican Voted No
- Sen. Castaneda, Jose L.
- Ruby, Dan Republican
Not signed on (137)
137 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 137 →"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 | 20 | 59 | 0 | 2 |
| Democratic | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 20 | 70 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 22% | 75% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (93)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Olson | — | Nay |
| Brown, Collette | Democratic | Nay |
| Conmy, Liz | Democratic | Nay |
| Davis, Jayme | Democratic | Nay |
| Dobervich, Gretchen | Democratic | Nay |
| Finley-DeVille, Lisa | Democratic | Nay |
| Foss, Austin | Democratic | Nay |
| Hager, LaurieBeth | Democratic | Nay |
| Hanson, Karla Rose | Democratic | Nay |
| Ista, Zachary | Democratic | Nay |
| Mitskog, Alisa | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Schneider, Mary | Democratic | Nay |
| Anderson, Bert | Republican | Nay |
| Anderson, Dick | Republican | Nay |
| Anderson, Karen A. | Republican | Nay |
| Bahl, Landon | Republican | Nay |
| Beltz, Mike | Republican | Nay |
| Berg, Mike | Republican | Nay |
| Bolinske, Macy | Republican | Nay |
| Bosch, Glenn | Republican | Nay |
| Brandenburg, Mike | Republican | Nay |
| Christianson, Nels | Republican | Nay |
| Dockter, Jason | Republican | Nay |
| Dressler, Ty | Republican | Yea |
| Fegley, Clayton | Republican | Nay |
| Fisher, Jay | Republican | Nay |
| Frelich, Kathy | Republican | Nay |
| Grindberg, Karen | Republican | Nay |
| Grueneich, Jim | Republican | Nay |
| Hagert, Jared C. | Republican | Nay |
| Hatlestad, Patrick R. | Republican | Nay |
| Hauck, Dori | Republican | Yea |
| Headland, Craig | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Karls, Karen | Republican | Nay |
| Kasper, Jim | Republican | Not Voting |
| Kempenich, Keith | Republican | Nay |
| Kiefert, Dwight | Republican | Nay |
| Klemin, Lawrence R. | Republican | Nay |
| Koppelman, Ben | Republican | Yea |
| Lefor, Mike | Republican | Nay |
| Longmuir, Donald W. | Republican | Nay |
| Louser, Scott | Republican | Nay |
| Maki, Roger A. | Republican | Yea |
| Marschall, Andrew | Republican | Yea |
| Martinson, Bob | Republican | Nay |
| McLeod, Carrie | Republican | Nay |
| Meier, Lisa | Republican | Nay |
| Monson, David | Republican | Nay |
| Morton, Desiree | Republican | Yea |
| Motschenbacher, Mike | Republican | Nay |
| Murphy, Eric J. | Republican | Nay |
| Nathe, Mike | Republican | Nay |
| Nehring, Dennis | Republican | Yea |
| Nelson, Jon O. | Republican | Nay |
| Novak, Anna S. | Republican | Not Voting |
| O'Brien, Emily | Republican | Nay |
| Olson, Jeremy | Republican | Nay |
| Osowski, Doug | Republican | Yea |
| Ostlie, Mitch | Republican | Nay |
| Porter, Todd | Republican | Nay |
| Pyle, Brandy L. | Republican | Nay |
| Richter, David | Republican | Nay |
| Rios, Nico | Republican | Yea |
| Rohr, Karen M. | Republican | Nay |
| Ruby, Dan | Republican | Yea |
| Ruby, Matthew | Republican | Nay |
| Sanford, Mark | Republican | Nay |
| Satrom, Bernie | Republican | Nay |
| Schatz, Mike | Republican | Yea |
| Schauer, Austen | Republican | Nay |
| Schreiber-Beck, Cynthia | Republican | Nay |
| Steiner, Vicky | Republican | Nay |
| Stemen, Gregory | Republican | Nay |
| Swiontek, Steve | Republican | Nay |
| Toman, Nathan | Republican | Nay |
| Tveit, Bill | Republican | Nay |
| VanWinkle, Lori | Republican | Yea |
| Vetter, Steve | Republican | Nay |
| Vigesaa, Don | Republican | Nay |
| Vollmer, Daniel R. | Republican | Nay |
| Wagner, Scott | Republican | Nay |
| Warrey, Jonathan | Republican | Nay |
| Weisz, Robin | Republican | Nay |
| Wolff, Christina | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 1609 do?
- A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 27-11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to admission to the bar examination through an apprenticeship program developed, established, and implemented by the supreme court.
- Who sponsors HB 1609?
- HB 1609 is sponsored by Sen. Paulson, Bob, Sen. Wobbema, Mike, VanWinkle, Lori (Republican), Heilman, Matthew (Republican), Hendrix, Jared (Republican), Johnston, Daniel (Republican), Koppelman, Ben (Republican), Morton, Desiree (Republican), Toman, Nathan (Republican), Sen. Castaneda, Jose L., and Ruby, Dan (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 1609?
- This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced January 20, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track HB 1609?
- Track HB 1609 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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