A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 54-12-08 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to special assistant attorneys general.
This bill updates rules for appointing special assistant attorneys general in North Dakota. It requires state agencies like the Tax Commission or Department of Transportation to use attorneys appointed by the Attorney General (not hired directly), with certain officials' appointments protected from removal. Agencies would pay the Attorney General for legal services instead of paying attorneys directly, with funds going into the Attorney General's operating fund. It also grants attorneys representing public universities access to student records under privacy laws.
Bill status
passed both
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Failed
Apr 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 20, 2025
Last action Apr 16, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
INTRODUCED
→
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill number and section number were updated from 25.1289.01000 to 25.1289.02000 to reflect the bill's progression through the legislative process. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new provision (paragraph 3.4) that clarifies how legal fees are handled, specifying that general fund money cannot be used to pay for legal services provided by attorneys employed by the attorney general, except for specific state departments. This change affects how legal costs are funded for various state entities.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on the appointment and powers of special assistant attorneys general, but the funding mechanism for their services has been clarified with new restrictions on general fund usage.
TECHNICAL
Bill number and section number updated from 25.1289.01000 to 25.1289.02000 to reflect legislative progression from introduction to first engrossment.
FISCAL
New provision added restricting the use of general fund money to pay for legal services provided by attorneys employed by the attorney general, with exceptions for specific state departments.
REQUIREMENT
Minor text correction in paragraph 1 regarding appointment revocation language, changing 'or upon' to 'and upon' for clarity.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 16, 2025 · House Feb 26, 2025
How they voted
9–37
Failed · 1 other
Total votes 47
Apr 16, 2025
D
Democratic5
80% Yea
R
Republican42
88% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
12
Key actions
8
Committee
4
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 0 0
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred State and Local Government Committee
upper
Feb 26, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (78-10-3)
house
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 80 nays 10
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 11 2 0
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 08:30
lower
Jan 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs Committee
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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