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SB 2289

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 14-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the disclosure of domestic violence protection orders to law enforcement.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Pat Heinert and 5 co-sponsors

Requires courts to disclose domestic violence order records to law enforcement on request to aid enforcement.

Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 2 nays 92
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Bill Summary · SB 2289

Summary — SB 2289 (North Dakota, 2025)

Status: Introduced March 11, 2025; passed the Senate but failed on second reading in the House (second reading failed 4/14/2025, yeas 2 nays 92). Sponsors: Senators Roers, Hogan, Larson; Representatives Heinert, O'Brien, Schneider.

Purpose

SB 2289 would have required courts to disclose records related to domestic violence protection orders to law enforcement on request, with the stated intent of enabling sheriffs and other law‑enforcement officers to carry out their duties in enforcing and responding to domestic violence protection orders.

Key provisions

  • Creates a new statutory section (drafted in the bill under chapter 14‑07; earlier draft language referenced chapter 44‑04) that requires disclosure of court records maintained in relation to matters involving a domestic violence protection order under section 14‑07.1‑02.
  • Plain language: “A court record maintained in relation to a matter involving a domestic violence protection order under section 14‑07.1‑02 must be disclosed and provided upon request to the office of a law enforcement officer” (or, in an earlier draft, to a sheriff’s office).
  • The disclosure is mandatory (“must be disclosed”) and triggered by request from a law‑enforcement office; the stated purpose is to enable officers to carry out their official duties.

Who would be affected

  • Courts and court clerks that maintain domestic violence protection order records — they would be required to respond to law‑enforcement requests and provide records.
  • Sheriffs’ offices and other law‑enforcement agencies — would gain explicit statutory access to these court records to assist with enforcement and investigations.
  • Petitioners and respondents in domestic violence protection order cases — their court records would be more readily disclosed to law enforcement; this implicates privacy and victim safety considerations.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced to the Senate 3/11/2025; passed the Senate (record of readings and votes in April 2025).
  • Sent to the House and placed on calendar, but failed on second reading in the House on 4/14/2025 (yeas 2, nays 92), so it did not become law.

Observations / issues for consideration

  • Drafts show slightly different cross‑references (chapter 44‑04 — sheriff; chapter 14‑07 — law enforcement broadly); final engrossment used chapter 14‑07 language.
  • The bill text as presented is narrow and procedural — it mandates disclosure but does not specify limits, redaction requirements, timeframes for response, authentication, or protections for victim safety and privacy. Those implementation details could affect administrative workload and raise confidentiality concerns if the bill were revisited.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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