SB 2255 — Relating to the qualifications, term, and duties of the state health officer.
Last action — Filed with Secretary Of State 04/03
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 20, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong (Republican) on April 03, 2025.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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5 sponsors
1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (2 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 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.
In plain language
The bill updates qualifications, duties, and term of the state health officer in North Dakota.
This bill modifies who can be appointed as the state health officer, clarifies their responsibilities, and sets a term length. It also outlines conditions under which the officer can issue disease control orders and how they interact with local health services.
Summary
AN ACT to amend and reenact section 23-01-05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the qualifications, term, and duties of the state health officer.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
91 added · 83 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to Senate Bill 2255 clarify the qualifications and terms for the state health officer in North Dakota. Notably, the requirement now specifies that the health officer must have both public health experience and relevant leadership experience. Additionally, the term of service has been changed from a fixed four years to serving at the pleasure of the governor, allowing for more flexibility in appointments. These changes are significant as they ensure that the state health officer is better prepared for the complexities of public health management while also allowing the governor more control over the appointment process.
25.1125.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota FIRSTIn ENGROSSMENTRegular ENGROSSEDSession Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025 SENATE BILL NO.
2255 Introduced(Senators by Senators Lee, Dever, HoganHogan) Representatives(Representatives Porter, M.
RubyRuby) AAN BILLACT for an Act to amend and reenact section 23-01-05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the qualifications, term, and duties of the state health officer.
If the office of the state health officer is filled temporarily, the governor shallThe commissioner of the department of health and human services may appoint at least three licensed physicians recommended by the state medical association to serve as Pagean No.advisory committee to advise the state health officer on matters of public health as requested by the state health officer.
1 25.1125.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly an advisory committee to advise the state health officer on matters of public health as requested by the state health officer.
d.S.
B.
NO.
2255 - PAGE 2 d.
Page(4) No.Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an order issued pursuant to this subsection may not:
2 25.1125.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an order issued pursuant to this subsection may not:
PageS. No.
3B. 25.1125.02000
NO.
2255 - PAGE 3 ____________________________ ____________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House ____________________________ ____________________________ Secretary of the Senate Chief Clerk of the House This certifies that the within bill originated in the Senate of the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota and is known on the records of that body as Senate Bill No.
2255.
Senate Vote:
Yeas 40 Nays 6 Absent 1 House Vote:
Yeas 76 Nays 16 Absent 2 ____________________________ Secretary of the Senate 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
View plain text versions (4)
- Enrolled Enrollment Current pdf
- Engrossed FIRST ENGROSSMENT pdf
- Adopted by the Senate Human Services Committee View text pdf
- Introduced View text pdf
Action History
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Filed with Secretary Of State 04/03
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Signed by Governor 04/02
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Sent to Governor
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Signed by President
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Signed by Speaker
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Returned to Senate
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Second reading, passed, yeas 76 nays 16
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Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 11 0 2
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Committee Hearing 03:45
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Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee
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Received from Senate
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Second reading, passed, yeas 40 nays 6
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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 11:15
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Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee
Sponsors
- Matthew Rep. Ruby · Cosponsor
- Judy Lee · Primary
- Dick Dever · Cosponsor
- Kathy Hogan · Cosponsor
- Todd Rep. Porter · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 143 not signed on · 21 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Lee, Judy Republican
Co-sponsors (4)
- Rep. Ruby, Matthew
- Dever, Dick Republican
- Hogan, Kathy Democratic
- Rep. Porter, Todd
Not signed on (143)
143 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 143 →"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 | 65 | 15 | 0 | 2 |
| Democratic | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 76 | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 81% | 17% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (94)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Olson | — | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Heinert, Pat D. | Republican | Yea |
| Henderson, Donna | Republican | Nay |
| Hendrix, Jared | Republican | Yea |
| Holle, Dawson | Republican | Yea |
| Hoverson, Jeff | Republican | Nay |
| Johnson, Jorin | Republican | Yea |
| Johnston, Daniel | Republican | Yea |
| Jonas, Jim | Republican | Not Voting |
| Karls, Karen | Republican | Yea |
| Kasper, Jim | Republican | Nay |
| Kempenich, Keith | Republican | Yea |
| Kiefert, Dwight | Republican | Yea |
| Klemin, Lawrence R. | Republican | Yea |
| Koppelman, Ben | Republican | Nay |
| Lefor, Mike | Republican | Yea |
| Longmuir, Donald W. | Republican | Yea |
| Louser, Scott | Republican | Yea |
| Maki, Roger A. | Republican | Yea |
| Marschall, Andrew | Republican | Nay |
| Martinson, Bob | Republican | Yea |
| McLeod, Carrie | Republican | Yea |
| Meier, Lisa | Republican | Yea |
| Monson, David | Republican | Yea |
| Morton, Desiree | Republican | Nay |
| Motschenbacher, Mike | Republican | Yea |
| Murphy, Eric J. | Republican | Yea |
| Nathe, Mike | Republican | Yea |
| Nehring, Dennis | Republican | Nay |
| Nelson, Jon O. | Republican | Yea |
| Novak, Anna S. | Republican | Yea |
| O'Brien, Emily | Republican | Yea |
| Olson, Jeremy | Republican | Yea |
| Osowski, Doug | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Not Voting |
| Tveit, Bill | Republican | Nay |
| VanWinkle, Lori | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 34 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Democratic | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 40 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 85% | 13% | 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 | Nay |
| Barta, Jeff | Republican | Yea |
| Beard, Todd | Republican | Yea |
| Bekkedahl, Brad | Republican | Yea |
| Boehm, Keith | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Not Voting |
| 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 | Nay |
| Meyer, Scott | Republican | Nay |
| Myrdal, Janne | Republican | Yea |
| Patten, Dale | Republican | Yea |
| Paulson, Bob | Republican | Yea |
| Powers, Michelle | Republican | Nay |
| Roers, Kristin | Republican | Yea |
| Rummel, Dean | Republican | Yea |
| Schaible, Donald | Republican | Yea |
| Sickler, Jonathan | Republican | Nay |
| 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 |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 2255 do?
- AN ACT to amend and reenact section 23-01-05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the qualifications, term, and duties of the state health officer.
- Who sponsors SB 2255?
- SB 2255 is sponsored by Rep. Ruby, Matthew, Lee, Judy (Republican), Dever, Dick (Republican), Hogan, Kathy (Democratic), and Rep. Porter, Todd.
- What is the current status of SB 2255?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 20, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 2255?
- Track SB 2255 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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