HB 1247 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-19 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to protection of a student victim of a sexual offense.

HB 1247 proposes to create a new section within the North Dakota Century Code's chapter on school districts. This bill aims to establish specific protections for students who are victims of a sexual offense. It directly affects student victims and requires school districts to implement the new provisions designed to safeguard these students.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed Apr 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

FIRST ENGROSSMENT Enrollment · 5 edits
MODERATE
HB 1247 was amended to expand protections for student victims of sexual offenses by broadening the definition of covered offenses and adding more detailed safety plan requirements. The bill now covers a wider range of sexual offenses beyond just sexual assault and includes specific procedures for reviewing and modifying safety plans based on victim input and various factors.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded from protecting victims of sexual assault to protecting victims of any sexual offense under chapter 12.1-20, including specific enumerated offenses.
DEFINITION

Changed the term 'sexual assault' to 'sexual offense' and expanded the definition to include offenses under multiple specific sections of chapter 12.1-20, not just nonconsensual offenses.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed requirements for safety plans including victim input consideration, no contact orders, expulsion hearing procedures, alternative education options, and scheduled reviews to assess necessary adjustments.

Added specific factors schools must consider when determining separation duration, including victim well-being, student age, offense severity, compliance with intervention programs, and input from multiple stakeholders.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement that juvenile courts or state's attorneys must provide school districts with copies of disposition orders or judgments, and upon victim consent, the victim's name.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed terminology from 'convicted student' to 'responsible student' to include both adjudicated juveniles and convicted adults, and renamed the act title from 'sexual assault' to 'sexual offense'.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 7, 2025 · House Apr 17, 2025

How they voted

470
Passed
Total votes 47
Apr 7, 2025
D Democratic5
5 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican42
42 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
11
Committee
4
Apr 25, 2025
Introduced
Filed with Secretary Of State 04/23
legislature
Apr 24, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor 04/23
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 91 nays 0
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Concurred
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 47 nays 0
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 0 0
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Education Committee
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 91 nays 0
lower
Jan 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
lower
Jan 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 14 0 0
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:30
lower
Jan 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Education Committee
lower
1 primary · 11 co-sponsors

Sponsors