AN ACT to amend and reenact section 26.1-03-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the publication of an abstract of annual statement.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Dick Anderson and 10 co-sponsors

North Dakota insurers must publish annual statement abstracts in designated newspapers and online, with certificate of authority and proof of publication details.

Filed with Secretary Of State 04/08

Main purpose

HB 1398 updates the statutory requirements for how insurance companies must submit and publish an abstract of their annual statement in North Dakota. The amendments clarify publication mechanics, the commissioner’s role, and require the insurance commissioner to make abstracts available on the department’s website.

Key provisions

Submission form: Insurance companies must submit an abstract of their annual statement on the form prescribed by the insurance commissioner at the time the annual statement is filed.

Publication requirements (stock/structured companies):

The abstract of each company (except state or county mutuals) must be published at least three times in a newspaper of general circulation designated by the commissioner.
Publication must occur in each judicial district in which the company has an agency, and publication should be evenly distributed across newspapers operating in the judicial district.

Publication requirements (state or county mutual insurance companies):

The abstract must be published once in a newspaper published in the county where the mutual company has its principal place of business. The newspaper is designated by company members at their annual meeting.

Certificate of authority: The company’s certificate of authority (authorizing it to do business in the state) must be published together with the abstract.

Fees and proof:

Publication fees are set under § 46‑05‑03 (existing statute references).
Proof of publication must be filed with the commissioner within four months after filing the annual statement.

Online access: The commissioner is required to provide abstracts in a convenient form on the commissioner’s website.

Who is affected

Insurance companies doing business in North Dakota (all companies, with specific rules for state or county mutuals).

The Insurance Commissioner’s office (responsible for forms, newspaper designation, and posting abstracts online).

Newspapers (receiving publication assignments and fees under existing fee statute).

Policyholders and the public (will have access to abstracts both in print and via the commissioner’s website).

Procedural/timeline notes

The bill amends NDCC § 26.1‑03‑10; the statutory deadline for filing proof of publication remains four months after annual statement filing.

The bill was introduced in the 2025 legislative session. Legislative history included passage by both chambers (House and Senate roll-call votes are recorded in the enrolled bill documents) and subsequent enrollment for executive action; final effective date will follow standard state procedure (upon the governor’s approval or an effective date specified in enactment).

Potential impact

Administrative: modest additional administrative tasks for the insurance department (issuing forms, designating newspapers, posting abstracts online).

Financial: publication costs remain governed by existing statute; insurers will continue to incur printing/publication fees, though online availability could improve public access and reduce reliance on print for many users.

Transparency: requires online provision of abstracts, increasing accessibility of company financial summaries to the public.

Bill