HB 1454 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 23-12 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to an opt-out procedure for required vaccines.

HB 1454 creates a new procedure allowing individuals to opt out of required vaccines under North Dakota law. It directly affects people subject to vaccine mandates, such as those for school enrollment or certain employment. The bill establishes a formal process for requesting exemptions from these requirements within the state's legal framework. This is a procedural change to the Century Code, not a policy shift on vaccine necessity. The summary is limited to the bill's stated mechanism as described in its title and abstract.

Issues: ✗ Healthcare

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

May 2025

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed May 2, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

FIRST ENGROSSMENT → Enrollment · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was amended to change the chapter of the North Dakota Century Code where the new vaccine opt-out provision is codified, moving from chapter 32-12.1 to chapter 23-12. The substantive policy language regarding the opt-out procedure for vaccines remains largely the same, though a specific exclusion for the department of corrections and rehabilitation was removed in the final version. The document also includes certification of passage by both legislative chambers and gubernatorial approval.

Scope change

The bill's codification location changed from chapter 32-12.1 to chapter 23-12 of the North Dakota Century Code, likely to align with other health-related statutes.

TECHNICAL

The chapter number for the new vaccine opt-out section was changed from 32-12.1 to 23-12 in the final enrolled version.

The bill header was updated from 'FIRST ENGROSSMENT' to 'Enrollment' to reflect the final version approved by the Governor.

REQUIREMENT

A provision explicitly excluding the department of corrections and rehabilitation from the vaccine opt-out requirements was removed in the final version.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 28, 2025 · House Apr 25, 2025

How they voted

30–17

Passed

Total votes 47

Apr 28, 2025

D Democratic5

5 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican42

30 Yea 12 Nay

71% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 11, 2025

Introduced

Filed with Secretary Of State 05/02

legislature

May 2, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by Governor 05/01

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 30 nays 17

upper

Apr 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee report adopted

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 59 nays 33

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference committee report adopted

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendar

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Appoint Sen. Hogan to replace Sen. Roers on conference committee

upper

Apr 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee appointed Weston Roers Van Oosting

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference committee appointed D. Ruby Ostlie Koppelman

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 40 nays 6

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Human Services

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 10:45

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 75 nays 16

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 11 1 1

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 10:00

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Industry, Business and Labor Committee

lower

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors