HB 1599 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to amend and reenact section 54-06-14.7 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to shared leave for state employees.

HB 1599 creates a formal state leave sharing program for permanent North Dakota state employees. It allows employees to donate accrued annual or sick leave to colleagues facing pregnancy or severe, extreme, or life-threatening medical conditions (for themselves or immediate family), requiring medical certification. The program limits donated leave to four months per year, excludes temporary or contracted staff, and mandates the Office of Management and Budget to track usage and adopt implementing rules. This policy directly affects permanent state employees needing extended leave due to qualifying health circumstances.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Signed Mar 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

FIRST ENGROSSMENT → Enrollment · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill enacts a state leave sharing program allowing permanent state employees to donate accrued annual and sick leave to colleagues facing severe medical conditions or caring for immediate relatives with serious health issues. The program establishes specific eligibility requirements, usage limits, and administrative oversight through the human resource management services division.

Scope change

The bill expands state employee benefits by creating a new leave sharing mechanism that was not previously available, applying only to permanent state employees.

ELIGIBILITY

Establishes eligibility for permanent state employees to donate and receive accrued annual and sick leave under specific medical circumstances

Excludes temporary and contracted employees with limited-term appointments from participating in the program

REQUIREMENT

Sets a limit of four months of donated leave per twelve-month period for recipients

Requires medical certification from qualified healthcare professionals to verify severe, extreme, or life-threatening conditions

Mandates tracking of leave usage by the human resource management services division

ENFORCEMENT

Requires adoption of administrative rules under chapter 28-32 to implement the program

Floor votes · Senate Mar 18, 2025 · House Feb 5, 2025

How they voted

45–1

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 47

Mar 18, 2025

D Democratic5

5 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican42

40 Yea 1 Nay 1

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 31, 2025

Introduced

Filed with Secretary Of State 03/27

legislature

Mar 28, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by Governor 03/26

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 45 nays 1

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 6 0 0

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee Hearing 09:00

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred State and Local Government Committee

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 92 nays 0

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 11 0 3

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 03:00

lower

Jan 20, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs Committee

lower

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors