North Dakota 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Status: Passed House 12 R cosponsors

HB 1446 — A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 16.1-03-14 and 16.1-03-21, subsection 1 of section 16.1-08.1-02.3, subsection 1 of section 16.1-08.1-02.4, and sections 16.1-09-02, 16.1-11-06, 16.1-11-10, 16.1-11-11, 16.1-11-12, 16.1-11-18, 16.1-11-30, and 16.1-11-39, subsection 1 of section 16.1-12-02, and sections 16.1-12-09 and 16.1-13-08.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to placing the name of a candidate on the primary election ballot; and to repeal sections 16.1-11-05.1, 16.1-11-09, and 16.1-11-36 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to party organization endorsements, certificates of endorsement, and the minimum vote required at a primary election for nomination.

Last action — Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 32 nays 58

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

This bill died with 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26). It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Relating to placing the name of a candidate on the primary election ballot; and to repeal sections 16.1‑11‑05.1, 16.1‑11‑09, and 16.1‑11‑36 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to party organization endorsements, certificates of endorsement, and the minimum vote required at a primary election for nomination.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

433 added · 419 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of House Bill 1446, some sections related to party organization endorsements were removed, specifically sections concerning certificates of endorsement and certain qualifications for primary elections. The amendment clarifies the procedures for party conventions, focusing on electing delegates and endorsing candidates without the previous requirements. This change is significant because it streamlines the process for political parties, potentially making it easier for them to organize and endorse candidates ahead of elections.

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25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly HOUSE BILL NO.
25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota FIRST ENGROSSMENT ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO.
1446 of North Dakota Introduced by Representatives Nathe, D.
1446 Introduced by Representatives Nathe, D.
Anderson, Berg, Bosch, Longmuir, Nelson, Porter, Swiontek Senators Bekkedahl, Dever, Roers, Cleary A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 16.1-03-14 and 16.1-03-21, subsection 1 of section 16.1-08.1-02.3, subsection 1 of section 16.1-08.1-02.4, and sections 16.1-09-02, 16.1-11-06, 16.1-11-10, 16.1-11-11, 16.1-11-12, 16.1-11-18, 16.1-11-30, and 16.1-11-39, subsection 1 of section 16.1-12-02, and sections 16.1-12-09 and 16.1-13-08.1, of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to placing the name of a candidate on the primary election ballot;
Anderson, Berg, Bosch, Longmuir, Nelson, Porter, Swiontek Senators Bekkedahl, Dever, Roers, Cleary A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 16.1-03-14 and 16.1-03-21, subsection 1 of section 16.1-08.1-02.3, subsection 1 of section 16.1-08.1-02.4, and sections 16.1-09-02, 16.1-11-06, 16.1-11-10, 16.1-11-11, 16.1-11-12, 16.1-11-18, 16.1-11-30, and 16.1-11-39, subsection 1 of section 16.1-12-02, and sections 16.1-12-09 and 16.1-13-08.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to placing the name of a candidate on the primary election ballot;
and to repeal sections 16.1-11-05.1 and 16.1-11-09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to party organization endorsements and certificates of endorsement.
and to repeal sections 16.1-11-05.1, 16.1-11-09, and 16.1-11-36 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to party organization endorsements, certificates of endorsement, and the minimum vote required at a primary election for nomination.
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1 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 2.
The names of the qualified electors nominated for presidential Page No.
The names of the qualified electors nominated for presidential electors the party wishes to place on the general election ballot must be certified by the chairman and secretary of the convention to the secretary of state by four p.m.
1 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly electors the party wishes to place on the general election ballot must be certified by the chairman and secretary of the convention to the secretary of state by four p.m.
Page No.
2 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 5.
Notwithstanding subsection 4, if a state party entitled to ballot access under 16.1-11-30 fails to be represented by an individual through a nominating petition for a statewide elected office seventy-one days before the primary election, the state party may appoint an individual to represent the party for that office under bylaws adopted by the state party.
Upon appointment, the state party shall issue a notification of appointment to the appointee, which must contain the appointee's name, mailing address, and telephone number.
The appointee shall file the notification of appointment with the secretary of state within the time prescribed under section 16.1-11-10.
Prior to the thirty-first day before a primary, general, or special election, a candidate or candidate committee formed on behalf of the candidate, a multicandidate political committee, or a political party other than a statewide political party soliciting or Page No.
Prior to the thirty-first day before a primary, general, or special election, a candidate or candidate committee formed on behalf of the candidate, a multicandidate political committee, or a political party other than a statewide political party soliciting or accepting contributions shall file a campaign disclosure statement that includes all contributions received from January first through the fortieth day before the election.
2 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly accepting contributions shall file a campaign disclosure statement that includes all contributions received from January first through the fortieth day before the election.
and d.
and Page No.
3 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly d.
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a.
3 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly a.
f.
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4 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly f.
Candidates for elective office who are required to file such statements shall do so with the filing officer for that election at the time of filing a certificate of Page No.
Candidates for elective office who are required to file such statements shall do so with the filing officer for that election at the time of filing a certificate of nomination, a certificate of endorsement, a petition of nomination, or a certificate of write-in candidacy, pursuant to chapter 16.1-11, 16.1-12, or 40-21, as is appropriate.
4 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly nomination, a certificate of endorsement, a petition of nomination, or a certificate of write-in candidacy, pursuant to chapter 16.1-11, 16.1-12, or 40-21, as is appropriate.
16.1-11-06.
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5 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 16.1-11-06.
The candidate's name, post-office address, nongovernment issued electronic mail address, and telephone number, and the title of the office to which the Page No.
The candidate's name, post-office address, nongovernment issued electronic mail address, and telephone number, and the title of the office to which the candidate aspires, the appropriate district judgeship number if applicable, and whether the petition is intended for nomination for an unexpired term of office if applicable.
5 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly candidate aspires, the appropriate district judgeship number if applicable, and whether the petition is intended for nomination for an unexpired term of office if applicable.
(c) (3) If the office is under the no-party designation but is not a statewide office, at least three hundred signatures.
Page No.
6 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly (c) (3) If the office is under the no-party designation but is not a statewide office, at least three hundred signatures.
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16.1-11-10.
6 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 16.1-11-10.
Upon receipt by the secretary of state of the petition or certificate of endorsement provided for in section 16.1-11-06 accompanied by the following affidavit, the secretary of state shall place the applicant's name upon the primary election ballot in the columns of the applicant's party as provided or within the no-party office for which the applicant desires nomination.
Upon receipt by the secretary of state of the petition or certificate of endorsement provided for inunder section 16.1-11-06, or a notification of appointment under section 16.1-03-21, accompanied by the following affidavit, the secretary of state shall place the applicant's name upon the primary election ballot in the columns of the applicant's party as provided or within the no-party office for which the applicant desires nomination.
State of North Dakota ) ) ss.
State of North Dakota ) Page No.
7 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly ) ss.
_______________________________________ Ballot name requested _______________________________________ Candidate's signature Page No.
_______________________________________ Ballot name requested _______________________________________ Candidate's signature Subscribed and sworn to before me on ______________, _____.
7 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly Subscribed and sworn to before me on ______________, _____.
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8 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 1.
If the office is a county office and no candidate was elected or no votes were cast for the office at any general election, the number of signers equal to at least two percent of the total average vote cast for the offices of sheriff and county auditor at the most recent general election at which those officers were elected in Page No.
If the office is a county office and no candidate was elected or no votes were cast for the office at any general election, the number of signers equal to at least two percent of the total average vote cast for the offices of sheriff and county auditor at the most recent general election at which those officers were elected in the petitioner's county.
8 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly the petitioner's county.
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Upon receipt of the petition or certificate of endorsement provided for in section 16.1-11-06, accompanied by an affidavit as provided in section 16.1-11-10, the secretary of state shall place the name of the applicant on the primary election ballot in the party or appropriate section if the documentation meets all applicable requirements.
Upon receipt of the petition or certificate of endorsement provided for in section 16.1-11-06, accompanied by an affidavit as provided in section 16.1-11-10, the secretary of state shall place the name of the applicant on the primary election ballot in Page No.
9 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly the party or appropriate section if the documentation meets all applicable requirements.
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2.
9 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 2.
16.1-11-30.
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10 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 16.1-11-30.
Political organizations that Page No.
Political organizations that are granted ballot access under this section are allowed ballot access only for those offices for which the organization has identified candidates.
10 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly are granted ballot access under this section are allowed ballot access only for those offices for which the organization has identified candidates.
A political organization that had printed on the ballot at the last preceding presidential election the names of a set of presidential electors pledged to the election of the party's candidates for president and vice president or a candidate for governor and those candidates for presidential electors or governor received at least five percent of the total vote cast for presidential electors or the office of governor within this state at that election, and any political organization that has printed on the ballot at the last preceding nonpresidential election a candidate for attorney general or secretary of state, and the candidate received at least five percent of the total vote cast for the office the candidate was seeking at the election are entitled to organize according to the requirements of chapter 16.1-03.
A political organization that had printed on the ballot at the last preceding presidential election the names of a set of presidential electors pledged to the election of the party's candidates for president and vice president or a candidate for governor and those candidates for presidential electors or governor received at least five percent of the total vote cast for presidential electors or the office of governor within this state at Page No.
11 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly that election, and any political organization that has printed on the ballot at the last preceding nonpresidential election a candidate for attorney general or secretary of state, and the candidate received at least five percent of the total vote cast for the office the candidate was seeking at the election are entitled to organize according to the requirements of chapter 16.1-03.
on the sixty-fourth day before the primary election, an insufficiency in the certificate of endorsement or petition or affidavit of candidacy filed by a candidate, the candidate may not be deemed nominated until the Page No.
on the sixty-fourth day before the primary election, an insufficiency in the certificate of endorsement or petition or affidavit of candidacy filed by a candidate, the candidate may not be deemed nominated until the insufficiency is corrected.
11 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly insufficiency is corrected.
16.1-12-09.
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12 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 16.1-12-09.
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12 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 3.
SECTION 15.
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13 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly SECTION 15.
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13 25.0267.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 4.
CERTIFICATE OF ENDORSEMENT I, ______________, do certify that I am the state (district) chairman of the ______________ political party of the ______________ legislative district (if appropriate) of the state of North Dakota and that ______________ (insert name of endorsee), residing at ____________, whose nongovernment-issued electronic mail address is ______________, was duly endorsed for nomination to the office of ______________ on the ______________ day of __________, by the ______________ political party of the ______________ legislative district (if appropriate), duly convened and organized in accordance with the bylaws of the ______________ political party and the laws of this state, and do hereby request ______________ name be printed upon the ballot as a candidate for nomination to the office of ______________ at the forthcoming primary election to be held on ______________ of this year.
CERTIFICATE OF ENDORSEMENT I, ______________, do certify that I am the state (district) chairman of the ______________ political party of the ______________ legislative district (if appropriate) of the state of North Dakota and that ______________ (insert name of endorsee), residing at ____________, whose nongovernment-issued electronic mail address is ______________, Page No.
14 25.0267.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly was duly endorsed for nomination to the office of ______________ on the ______________ day of __________, by the ______________ political party of the ______________ legislative district (if appropriate), duly convened and organized in accordance with the bylaws of the ______________ political party and the laws of this state, and do hereby request ______________ name be printed upon the ballot as a candidate for nomination to the office of ______________ at the forthcoming primary election to be held on ______________ of this year.
Sections 16.1-11-05.1 and 16.1-11-09 of the North Dakota Century Code are repealed.
Sections 16.1-11-05.1, 16.1-11-09, and 16.1-11-36 of the North Dakota Century Code are repealed.
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Action History

  1. Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 32 nays 58

  2. Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

  3. Reported back amended, do not pass, placed on calendar 9 4 0

  4. Committee Hearing 08:30

  5. Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs Committee

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 136 not signed on · 58 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (136)

136 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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

Motion for Final Passage on HB 1446

Failed 32 Yea · 58 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 245602
Democratic 8201
Total 325803
% of votes cast 34%62%0%3%
How each member voted (93)
Member Party Vote
Brown, Collette Democratic Yea
Conmy, Liz Democratic Yea
Davis, Jayme Democratic Yea
Dobervich, Gretchen Democratic Nay
Finley-DeVille, Lisa Democratic Nay
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 Nay
Bahl, Landon Republican Nay
Beltz, Mike Republican Yea
Berg, Mike Republican Yea
Bolinske, Macy Republican Nay
Bosch, Glenn Republican Yea
Brandenburg, Mike Republican Yea
Christianson, Nels Republican Nay
Dockter, Jason Republican Nay
Dressler, Ty Republican Nay
Fegley, Clayton Republican Nay
Fisher, Jay Republican Nay
Frelich, Kathy Republican Nay
Grindberg, Karen Republican Nay
Grueneich, Jim Republican Yea
Hagert, Jared C. Republican Nay
Hatlestad, Patrick R. Republican Nay
Hauck, Dori Republican Nay
Headland, Craig Republican Nay
Heilman, Matthew Republican Nay
Heinert, Pat D. Republican Yea
Henderson, Donna Republican Nay
Hendrix, Jared Republican Nay
Holle, Dawson Republican Nay
Hoverson, Jeff Republican Nay
Johnson, Jorin Republican Nay
Johnston, Daniel Republican Nay
Jonas, Jim Republican Yea
Karls, Karen Republican Yea
Kasper, Jim Republican Not Voting
Kempenich, Keith Republican Nay
Kiefert, Dwight Republican Yea
Klemin, Lawrence R. Republican Nay
Koppelman, Ben Republican Nay
Lefor, Mike Republican Nay
Longmuir, Donald W. Republican Yea
Louser, Scott Republican Nay
Maki, Roger A. Republican Nay
Marschall, Andrew Republican Nay
Martinson, Bob Republican Nay
McLeod, Carrie Republican Nay
Meier, Lisa Republican Nay
Monson, David Republican Nay
Morton, Desiree Republican Nay
Motschenbacher, Mike Republican Nay
Murphy, Eric J. Republican Nay
Nathe, Mike Republican Yea
Nehring, Dennis Republican Nay
Nelson, Jon O. Republican Yea
Novak, Anna S. Republican Not Voting
O'Brien, Emily Republican Yea
Olson, Jeremy Republican Yea
Olson, Jeremy Republican Nay
Osowski, Doug Republican Nay
Ostlie, Mitch Republican Nay
Porter, Todd Republican Yea
Pyle, Brandy L. Republican Nay
Richter, David Republican Yea
Rios, Nico Republican Nay
Rohr, Karen M. Republican Nay
Ruby, Dan Republican Nay
Ruby, Matthew Republican Nay
Sanford, Mark Republican Nay
Satrom, Bernie Republican Yea
Schatz, Mike Republican Nay
Schauer, Austen Republican Yea
Schreiber-Beck, Cynthia Republican Nay
Steiner, Vicky Republican Nay
Stemen, Gregory Republican Yea
Swiontek, Steve Republican Yea
Toman, Nathan Republican Nay
Tveit, Bill Republican Nay
VanWinkle, Lori Republican Nay
Vetter, Steve Republican Nay
Vigesaa, Don Republican Nay
Vollmer, Daniel R. Republican Nay
Wagner, Scott Republican Nay
Warrey, Jonathan Republican Yea
Weisz, Robin Republican Yea
Wolff, Christina Republican Nay

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Subjects

elections
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1446 do?
Relating to placing the name of a candidate on the primary election ballot; and to repeal sections 16.1‑11‑05.1, 16.1‑11‑09, and 16.1‑11‑36 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to party organization endorsements, certificates of endorsement, and the minimum vote required at a primary election for nomination.
Who sponsors HB 1446?
HB 1446 is sponsored by Swiontek, Steve (Republican), Roers, Kristin (Republican), Porter, Todd (Republican), Nelson, Jon O. (Republican), Longmuir, Donald W. (Republican), Dever, Dick (Republican), Cleary, Sean (Republican), Bosch, Glenn (Republican), Berg, Mike (Republican), Bekkedahl, Brad (Republican), Anderson, Dick (Republican), and Nathe, Mike (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 1446?
This bill died with 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26). It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 1446?
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