HB 1458 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

A BILL for an Act to provide for a legislative management study regarding limiting the release of self-spreading viruses and bacteria.

HB 1458 would have required North Dakota's legislative management to conduct a study on limiting the development and release of self-spreading viruses and bacteria. The study would have examined who is involved in such work, health impacts and data on adverse effects, potential enforcement measures, and possible exceptions. It was not a law but a procedural request for analysis, intended to inform future legislation. The bill failed to pass in the March 2025 legislative session (16 yeas, 29 nays) and remains inactive. No policy changes were enacted.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Failed

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Mar 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

FIRST ENGROSSMENT → SECOND ENGROSSMENT · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten from a law prohibiting the release of self-spreading viruses to a directive for a legislative management study on the topic. The original version would have created criminal restrictions and civil penalties, while the new version simply instructs officials to research the issue and report findings to the next legislative session.

Scope change

Changed from an operative law with immediate legal restrictions to a non-binding study directive with no immediate legal effect.

REQUIREMENT

Removed all legal restrictions on developing or releasing self-spreading viruses, including the requirement for written consent from potentially exposed individuals.

Added a requirement for legislative management to conduct a study during the 2025-26 interim session on limiting virus and bacteria development and release.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the provision allowing private citizens to sue for violations and recover monetary damages or five thousand dollars per violation.

SCOPE

Changed the bill's purpose from enacting immediate legal restrictions to requesting a future study and report on potential restrictions.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2025 · House Feb 26, 2025

How they voted

16–29

Failed · 2 other

Total votes 47

Mar 25, 2025

D Democratic5

5 Nay

100% Nay

R Republican42

16 Yea 24 Nay 2

57% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 25, 2025

Vote failed

Senate Vote: fail (16-29-2)

senate

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back without recommendation 6 0 0

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee Hearing 09:30

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee

upper

Feb 26, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (68-20-3)

house

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 70 nays 20

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 10 2 1

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Human Services

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 7 6 0

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 11:00

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee

lower

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors