2025 Bill Tracker
Thank you for joining us in defending democracy and protecting voting rights in the 2025 ND Legislative Session. Below are our statements on bills, our impact graphic, and bills we tracked during the session.
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2025 Session Adjourns
Thank you for taking action to protect voting rights and defend our democracy in North Dakota! ​​​Our next legislative session starts in January 2027, and you can stay involved outside of the session:​
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Continue to lobby your legislators on issues you care about
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Run for office or encourage others to run
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Empower voters in your community
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Join us to stay updated on what's happening in the interim and become part of our community of members defending democracy in North Dakota.
LWVND Responds
>> Response to the passage of HB 1165, which will shorten the window for vote by mail in North Dakota.
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The League of Women Voters of North Dakota works hard to encourage eligible North Dakota voters to cast a ballot each election, and this law will create additional barriers, especially for those who already have difficulties casting a ballot. Read our full statement here.
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>> Response to the Legislature passing HCR 3003, which would raise the voter approval threshold for constitutional ballot measures.:
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The North Dakota Legislature is attempting again to weaken the power of the people to amend our state constitution. They need to stop trying to limit the voice of the people in the governance of our state.
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>> Response to new law banning approval voting (signed March 16):
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LWVND is disappointed Governor Armstrong signed a new law (HB 1297) banning the voting method Fargo residents use for their nonpartisan city elections. In November 2018, 63% of Fargo voters cast their ballot in favor of using approval voting for city elections, and this system has been used successfully and securely three times since.
It's unfortunate that North Dakota’s long-standing practice of home rule, giving local citizens the right to decide matters pertaining to their city elections, has been revoked.
Here's What Passed:
Student Voters—HB 1178: A bill to require school districts to allow student voters to leave campus to vote in elections. Read our testimony.
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​ Ballot Design—HB 1099 : A bill to add the presidential candidates' first names to the ballot. Currently, only the last names for presidential candidates are required on the ballot, which confused some voters in the November 2024 election.
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Statement of Interests—HB 1469: A bill to require elected officials to file an annual statement of interests. The statement serves to disclose the elected official's financial relationships and, currently, only filed when they run for office. Read our testimony.​
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Absentee Voting—HB 1165 A bill that shortens the timeframe to vote by mail. Learn more in our veto request letter.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Ban Approval Voting—HB 1297 A bill to ban approval voting and ranked choice voting in North Dakota. Read our testimony.
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Voting Methods—HB 1307 A bill to require local ordinances not to conflict with state election law. The bill eliminates Fargo's use of approval voting for city elections and bans local governments from adopting alternative voting methods in the future. Read our testimony.
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Constitutional Amendments—​HCR 3003 A resolution to increase the threshold for voter approval of a constitutional amendment from a simple majority to 60%. It will be on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 election. Read our testimony
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Single Subject Rule—​SCR 4007: A resolution to create a single-subject rule for constitutional amendments - both initiated and referred. It will be on the ballot in the June 9, 2026 election. Read our testimony
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Electoral College—SCR 4013: A resolution in support of the Electoral College. This is a messaging resolution, but the Secretary of State will send it to other state legislatures to consider forming an Electoral College Interstate Compact. Read our testimony
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​ Artificial Intelligence—HB 1167: A bill to require political ads containing AI-generated content to have a disclaimer.
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Political Ads—HB 1204: A bill to expand current law against publishing false information in political ads to more mediums, like social media.​​
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​ Ethics Commission—SB 2004: A bill to fund the ND Ethics Commission's budget. Lawmakers ultimately decided to fund a new online system for the Commission to track complaint cases, move a current employee to a higher classification level, not to add a deadline to close complaint cases, and not to fund an additional full-time staff member.
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​ Post-Election Audit—SB 2175 : A bill to require every county to do a post-election audit of the ballots from one polling location in the county.
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Public Comment—SB 2180: A bill to require local governments to allow public comment in at least 1/4 of public meeting in the year.
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​​​ Voter Info—SB 2230: A bill to require the Secretary of State to create and distribute educational materials on constitutional amendments to voters before each election.
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​ Recall Elections —SB 2269 : A bill to increase the number of signatures on petitions for recall of a city official from 25% to 35% of voters in the last election for that office.
​Here's What Failed:
Lobbyist Gifts—HB 1304: A bill to provide an exception to the prohibition against gifts for legislator attendance at an out-of-state educational event. Withdrawn.​
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​ Voter Info —HB 1616: A bill to require voter information in our state's voter file be made available to anyone located within or outside the state.
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​ Primary Election Ballots—SB 2178 : A bill that would impact our state primaries and voter privacy. Read our testimony
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DC Statehood—SCR 4009: A resolution urging Congress to support admitting Washington, D.C. into the Union as a state of the United States. Our testimony
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​​ Polling Places in Schools—HB 1387: A bill to require a school's classes be cancelled or separate students so they don't come in contact with voters if a polling site is located in the school.
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Political Ads—HB 1583: A bill to expand current law against publishing false information in political ads to more mediums, like social media, and allow candidates who are targeted with false information to sue for civil damages.
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​ Campaign Finance—HB 1377 : A bill to change campaign finance reporting, such as requiring candidates to report their year-end campaign account balance.
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Lobbying Clarification—SB 2052: A bill to clarify that elected public officials, not appointed officials, are prohibited from acting as lobbyists.
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​​​​​​​​​​ Campaign Finance—SB 2156: A bill to change the campaign finance reporting requirements for candidates, such as increasing the late fee charged to candidates who submit theirs late.
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Legislative Districts—SB 2338: A bill to move the boundary lines for the House sub-districts in District 9 that were created by legislators in 2021 to give fair representation to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Spirit Lake Nation who live in District 9.
​Take Action​​
Remember: Only our official lobbyists can speak on behalf of the League. You can take action on bills on behalf of yourself as an individual, not as a representative of the League of Women Voters. Thank you for taking action!