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SB 2211

AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 27-02.2-01, 27-02.2-02, 27-02.2-03, 27-02.2-04, 27-02.2-05, 27-02.2-06, 27-02.2-09, 27-02.2-10, and 27-02.2-11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the attorney recruitment and retention program.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Brad Bekkedahl and 5 co-sponsors

The bill creates an Attorney Recruitment and Retention Assistance Program to fund incentives for rural ND counties to attract and keep lawyers for five years.

Filed with Secretary Of State 03/18
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Bill Summary · SB 2211

SB 2211 — North Dakota: Attorney Recruitment and Retention Program (2025)

Status: Introduced March 11, 2025; Filed with Secretary of State March 18, 2025. Companion bill: HB 4290.

Main purpose

To amend and reenact provisions (NDCC 27‑02.2‑01 through 27‑02.2‑11) creating/modernizing an Attorney Recruitment and Retention Assistance Program administered by the North Dakota Supreme Court. The program is designed to help rural counties and small municipalities recruit and retain licensed attorneys by providing financial incentives tied to multi‑year service commitments.

Key provisions and changes

  • Authority and selection

    • The Supreme Court may establish the program, accept applications from counties/municipalities, assess local need and sustainability, and maintain a list of selected participants.
    • Selection factors include local demographics; age/number of local bar members; presiding district judge recommendation; local economic development; geography relative to other participants; and prior program participation.

  • Eligibility

    • Counties and municipalities must meet population/eligibility thresholds and be approved by the Supreme Court. (Note: the bill text for the county population threshold appears garbled—see “Notes/clarification” below.)
    • Attorneys must be licensed in North Dakota and meet Supreme Court requirements.

  • Participation limits and service requirement

    • An attorney must practice full‑time in the selected county or municipality for at least five consecutive years.
    • No more than eight attorneys may be participating in the program at any one time.

  • Financial terms

    • Incentive: $45,000 per participating attorney, paid in five equal annual installments (i.e., $9,000/year).
    • Cost‑sharing: the county/municipality must provide 35% of the total incentive (35% of $45,000 = $15,750) paid in five equal installments; the State Bar Association, North Dakota Bar Foundation, or other legal association shall pay 15% of the annual installment to the Supreme Court (the bill language specifies 15% of each annual installment).
    • After certification that local and association payments were made, the Supreme Court pays the remaining balance of the annual installment to the attorney.
    • Supreme Court payments are subject to legislative appropriation.

  • Fund and enforcement

    • Establishes an Attorney Recruitment and Retention Assistance Program Fund in the state treasury; deposits from specified collections are appropriated to the judicial branch on a continuing basis for program payments.
    • Breach: an attorney who breaches the agreement must repay all funds received under terms set by the Supreme Court; failure to repay is grounds for discipline.

  • Ineligibility

    • Individuals who previously participated in this chapter’s program—or in other state/federal scholarship, loan repayment, or tuition reimbursement programs requiring service in underserved areas—are not eligible to participate again.

Who is affected

  • Rural counties and small municipalities that seek lawyers.
  • Participating attorneys (benefit from payments; bound to 5‑year service).
  • North Dakota Supreme Court (administration, approvals).
  • Local bar organizations and bar foundation (cost‑sharing obligations).
  • Judicial branch budget/appropriations (funding responsibilities).

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced March 11, 2025; filed with Secretary of State March 18, 2025.
  • Scheduled for/considered at public hearing (per legislative actions listed); companion House activity referenced.
  • Program payments from the dedicated fund are authorized on a continuing appropriation basis but also noted as subject to legislative appropriation for the Supreme Court’s required payments.

Notes / Clarification

  • The county eligibility provision in the posted text contains a typographical/formatting error: it reads “Has a population of sixteen thousandfive or fewer licensed attorneys residing in the county;” — the intended threshold (likely a population cap) should be confirmed before final implementation or guidance is issued.

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

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