HB 1204 — AN ACT to amend and reenact section 16.1-10-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the publication of false information in political advertisements; and to provide a penalty.
Last action — Filed with Secretary Of State 04/11
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong (Republican) on April 11, 2025.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high 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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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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8 sponsors
1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (8 R).
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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
Relating to the publication of false information in political advertisements; and to provide a penalty.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
41 added · 30 removedPlain-language change summary
The updated version of Bill HB 1204 clarifies the definition of what constitutes false information in political advertisements and specifies the various platforms through which this information can be disseminated. Importantly, it also outlines the penalty for those who knowingly publish misleading content as a class A misdemeanor. This change is significant because it aims to enhance accountability in political advertising, helping to ensure that voters have access to honest information during elections. Additionally, the bill exempts media outlets from liability if they are not the source of the misleading content, protecting them from potential legal repercussions.
25.0254.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota FIRSTIn ENGROSSMENTRegular ENGROSSEDSession HOUSECommencing BILLTuesday, NO.January 7, 2025 (Representatives Schatz, Dressler, Fisher, Frelich, Meier, Toman) (Senators Luick, Van Oosting) AN ACT to amend and reenact section 16.1-10-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the publication of false information in political advertisements;
1204 Introduced by Representatives Schatz, Dressler, Fisher, Frelich, Meier, Toman Senators Luick, Van Oosting A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 16.1-10-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the publication of false information in political advertisements;
A person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if thatthe person knowingly, or with reckless disregard for its truth or falsity, publishes anya political advertisement or news release that contains anycontaining an assertion, representation, or statement of fact, including information concerning a candidate's prior public record, which is untrue, deceptive, or misleading, whether on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office, initiated measure, referred measure, constitutional amendment, or any other issue, question, or proposal on an election ballot, and whether the publicationpublicationwhich is published by radio, television, newspaper, text message, telephone call, pamphlet, folder, display cards, signs, posters, billboard advertisements, websites, electronic transmission, social media, or by any other public means or commercial medium.
PageH. No.
1B. 25.0254.02000
NO.
1204 - PAGE 2 ____________________________ ____________________________ 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.
1204.
House Vote:
Yeas 77 Nays 14 Absent 3 Senate Vote:
Yeas 45 Nays 1 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
View plain text versions (4)
- Enrolled Enrollment Current pdf
- Engrossed FIRST ENGROSSMENT pdf
- Amended FIRST ENGROSSMENT with Senate Amendments pdf
- Introduced View text pdf
Action History
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Filed with Secretary Of State 04/11
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Signed by Governor 04/10
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Sent to Governor
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Signed by Speaker
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Signed by President
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Second reading, passed, yeas 77 nays 14
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Concurred
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Returned to House (12)
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Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 45 nays 1
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Amendment adopted
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Amendment proposed on floor
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Laid over one legislative day
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Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 5 0 1
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Committee Hearing 10:15
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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 91 nays 0
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Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
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Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 10 2 1
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Committee Hearing 10:00
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Introduced, first reading, referred Political Subdivisions Committee
Sponsors
- Desiree van Oosting · Cosponsor
- Nathan Toman · Cosponsor
- Lisa Meier · Cosponsor
- Larry Luick · Cosponsor
- Kathy Frelich · Cosponsor
- Jay Fisher · Cosponsor
- Ty Dressler · Cosponsor
- Mike Schatz · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 140 not signed on · 15 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Schatz, Mike Republican
Co-sponsors (7)
- van Oosting, Desiree Republican
- Toman, Nathan Republican
- Meier, Lisa Republican
- Luick, Larry Republican
- Frelich, Kathy Republican
- Fisher, Jay Republican
- Dressler, Ty Republican
Not signed on (140)
140 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 140 →"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 | 69 | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Democratic | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 77 | 14 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 82% | 15% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (94)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Brown, Collette | Democratic | Nay |
| Conmy, Liz | Democratic | Yea |
| Davis, Jayme | Democratic | Yea |
| Dobervich, Gretchen | Democratic | Yea |
| Finley-DeVille, Lisa | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Foss, Austin | Democratic | Yea |
| Hager, LaurieBeth | Democratic | Yea |
| Hanson, Karla Rose | Democratic | Yea |
| Ista, Zachary | Democratic | Nay |
| Mitskog, Alisa | Democratic | Yea |
| Schneider, Mary | Democratic | Yea |
| Anderson, Bert | Republican | Yea |
| Anderson, Dick | Republican | Yea |
| Anderson, Karen A. | Republican | Nay |
| Bahl, Landon | Republican | Not Voting |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| Headland, Craig | Republican | Yea |
| Heilman, Matthew | Republican | Yea |
| Heinert, Pat D. | Republican | Yea |
| Henderson, Donna | Republican | Nay |
| Hendrix, Jared | Republican | Yea |
| Holle, Dawson | Republican | Yea |
| Hoverson, Jeff | Republican | Nay |
| Johnson, Jorin | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 |
| Olson, Jeremy | Republican | Nay |
| Osowski, Doug | Republican | Yea |
| Ostlie, Mitch | Republican | Yea |
| Porter, Todd | Republican | Yea |
| Pyle, Brandy L. | Republican | Yea |
| Richter, David | Republican | Yea |
| Rios, Nico | Republican | Nay |
| Rohr, Karen M. | Republican | Nay |
| 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 | 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 | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 40 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Democratic | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 45 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 96% | 2% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (47)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Nay |
| Roers, Kristin | Republican | Yea |
| Rummel, Dean | Republican | Yea |
| 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 | Not Voting |
| van Oosting, Desiree | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 80 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Democratic | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 91 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 97% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (94)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 | Yea |
| Heilman, Matthew | Republican | Not Voting |
| Heinert, Pat D. | Republican | Yea |
| Henderson, Donna | Republican | Yea |
| Hendrix, Jared | Republican | Yea |
| Holle, Dawson | Republican | Not Voting |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 | Not Voting |
| 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 |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 1204 do?
- Relating to the publication of false information in political advertisements; and to provide a penalty.
- Who sponsors HB 1204?
- HB 1204 is sponsored by van Oosting, Desiree (Republican), Toman, Nathan (Republican), Meier, Lisa (Republican), Luick, Larry (Republican), Frelich, Kathy (Republican), Fisher, Jay (Republican), Dressler, Ty (Republican), and Schatz, Mike (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 1204?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 1204?
- Track HB 1204 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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