SB 2286 proposes authorizing the University of North Dakota (UND) to borrow up to $55 million through a line of credit from the Bank of North Dakota during 2025-2027, with interest capped at rates for state entities. It also appropriates $95 million in one-time funding for UND to construct a new health sciences facility at its School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The facility aims to expand health workforce capacity in areas like behavioral health and wellness, while supporting research and academic programs. The bill failed to pass in the legislature on April 8, 2025, with 6 votes in favor and 87 against.
SB 2096 provides $5 million for renovating state hospital buildings to serve individuals with mental illness under correctional custody, involuntary commitment, or court-ordered forensic exams. It also appropriates $100 million to establish four regional acute psychiatric treatment and residential supportive housing services across North Dakota. The funds will allow the Department of Health and Human Services to build up to 24-bed facilities in each region or contract with private providers for these services. The bill directly affects individuals requiring acute psychiatric care and supportive housing, with funding allocated for the 2025-2027 biennium.
SB 2231 would require North Dakota's medical assistance program to cover specific dental and behavioral services, directly affecting recipients of medical assistance who need these services. The bill mandates coverage for family adaptive behavioral treatment guidance, dental screenings, dental case management for special populations (including children, elderly, and medically fragile individuals), and asynchronous teledentistry to improve access. It explicitly states these new coverage requirements do not apply to Medicaid expansion programs for children and adults. The bill failed to pass in the Senate on March 27, 2025, with 33 votes in favor and 59 against.
HB 1154 extends a moratorium on adding new basic care and nursing facility bed capacity in North Dakota from August 1, 2023, through July 31, 2029. It prohibits new licenses for basic care beds unless facilities convert existing beds, demonstrate high demand (90% occupancy within 50 miles for 12 months), or receive department approval. The bill also restricts nursing facilities from changing bed configurations more than twice annually, except for specific conversions or relicensing after July 31, 2011. This law directly affects nursing homes and care facilities seeking to expand or reconfigure bed capacity across the state.
HB 1467 requires North Dakota's Department of Health to create a website linking to the federal vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) and compile state-specific data on vaccine side effects and administration errors. Healthcare providers must report adverse events and errors (like wrong dosage or expired vaccines) using department-prescribed forms, while the public can also submit reports. The bill establishes a $100,000 fund to support this system and mandates annual legislative reports on its effectiveness. It directly affects healthcare facilities, providers, and the public by creating a standardized process for tracking and reporting vaccine-related incidents.
HB 1519 requires North Dakota's Department of Health to compile and maintain individual death and vaccination records from the state's immunization and death registration systems. It mandates tracking specific details like vaccine type, date of vaccination, sex, race, and death dates within 720 days post-vaccination. The department must publish quarterly public reports on its website showing death rates for each vaccine type administered to over 20,000 people in the previous quarter, broken down by demographic groups and time intervals after vaccination. This bill directly affects the state health department's data management and public reporting processes.
HB 1337 would provide $10 million in state funds to counties for mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for people in jail. The bill requires counties receiving grants to report annually on how funds were used and outcomes, and the health department to submit a summary report to lawmakers by 2026. This funding would cover the 2025-2027 biennium and aim to expand access to mental health care for incarcerated individuals.
HB 1590 would create a pilot program allowing North Dakota parents to open student education services accounts for K-12 children. Parents could deposit up to $2,000 annually per child, with the Bank of North Dakota matching 50% of those deposits. Funds could cover authorized expenses like career courses, tutoring, mental health services, and approved educational materials, with unused funds rolling over yearly. The pilot, running 2025-2027 with $41.2 million in state funding, would close accounts if students leave the state or don't pursue higher education, requiring parent refunds for contributed amounts.
HB 1451 would require North Dakota's medical assistance program (including Medicaid) to cover comprehensive obesity treatment, such as intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved antiobesity medications. The bill mandates that coverage criteria for antiobesity medication align with FDA approvals and prohibits separate cost-sharing (like higher deductibles or copays) for obesity treatment compared to other medical conditions. It also requires the state to provide written notice to enrollees about this coverage by December 31, 2025. This bill directly affects Medicaid enrollees in North Dakota seeking obesity-related treatments.
Relating to minimum standards for coverage of antiobesity medication; to provide for a report to the legislative assembly; to provide for application; and to provide an expiration date.
