HB 1430 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 43-41 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the regulation of social workers.

HB 1430 would amend North Dakota's social work regulations to allow licensed social workers to offer counseling aligned with heterosexuality or a client's biological sex without violating ethics rules. It directly affects licensed social workers in North Dakota who provide counseling to individuals questioning their sexuality or gender identity. The bill requires social workers to disclose the nature of such treatment and obtain written consent from the client or their parent/guardian before proceeding. This legislation, which failed to pass in March 2025, focuses on defining ethical boundaries for specific counseling approaches under professional regulation.

Issues: ✗ Healthcare

Bill status passed both 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Failed

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Mar 27, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

INTRODUCED → FIRST ENGROSSMENT · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill renumbered the section from 25.0915.02000 to 25.0915.03000 and substantially revised the ethics rules regarding conversion therapy. The original text permitted offering treatment plans aligned with heterosexuality or biological sex, while the new text defines conversion therapy and prohibits it for all licensees, with a specific exception allowing licensed clinical social workers to provide supportive counseling aligned with personal or spiritual beliefs.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from permitting certain conversion therapy practices to broadly prohibiting them, with a narrow exception for supportive counseling by licensed clinical social workers.

DEFINITION

Added a definition of 'conversion therapy' as any treatment aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity, including medication, psychotherapy, electroshock therapy, and aversion therapy.

REQUIREMENT

Removed language that permitted licensees to offer treatment plans aligning with heterosexuality or biological sex.

Added a prohibition making it an ethical violation for any licensee to conduct conversion therapy.

Modified disclosure and authorization requirements to ensure practices align with the individual's self-determination rather than specific orientation goals.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exception allowing licensed clinical social workers to counsel individuals questioning their sexuality or gender to align with personal or spiritual beliefs.

TECHNICAL

Renumbered the section from 25.0915.02000 to 25.0915.03000 and updated bill title formatting.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2025 · House Feb 25, 2025

How they voted

22–25

Failed

Total votes 47

Mar 27, 2025

D Democratic5

5 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican42

22 Yea 20 Nay

52% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 27, 2025

Vote failed

Senate Vote: fail (22-25)

senate

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 4 2 0

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee Hearing 10:15

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee

upper

Feb 25, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (55-36)

house

Feb 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 55 nays 38

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 8 4 1

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 10:30

lower

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee

lower

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors