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SB 2043

AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 5 of section 15.1-13-26 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to denial of or immediate revocation of a teaching license for crimes against a child and sexual offenses.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Michelle Axtman

Clarifies ND licensure grounds: counts many convictions (guilty pleas, deferred/suspended sentences) and crimes against children/sexual offenses to deny or revoke licenses.

Filed with Secretary Of State 03/14
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2043

Summary — North Dakota SB 2043 (2025)

Title: An Act to amend and reenact subsection 5 of section 15.1‑13‑26 of the North Dakota Century Code — relating to denial of or immediate revocation of a teaching license for crimes against a child and sexual offenses

Note: the provided document also included an unrelated Illinois SB2043. This summary addresses the North Dakota bill described above.

Purpose / Intent

SB 2043 clarifies and restates the statutory definitions used in the teacher‑licensure denial/ immediate revocation provision (NDCC §15.1‑13‑26). The bill specifies what counts as a "conviction" and defines which offenses qualify as a "crime against a child" or a "sexual offense" for purposes of denying or immediately revoking a teaching license.

Key provisions

The bill amends and reenacts subsection 5 of NDCC §15.1‑13‑26 to:

  • Define "conviction" to include:

    • A finding of guilt;
    • A guilty plea;
    • Pleas of no contest / nolo contendere;
    • A judgment of conviction even if the court suspended execution of sentence (per NDCC §12.1‑32‑02(3));
    • A deferred imposition of sentence (per NDCC §12.1‑32‑02(4));
    • Equivalent outcomes under comparable statutes.
    • Excludes findings of guilt that are overturned on appeal.

  • Define "crime against a child" to include violations of listed North Dakota criminal statutes (and equivalent federal laws/local ordinances) where the victim is a minor or meets the age element of the offense. Statutes enumerated include: NDCC §§ 12.1‑16‑01 through 12.1‑16‑04; 12.1‑17‑01.1 through 12.1‑17‑10 (selected subsections); 12.1‑18‑01 through 12.1‑18‑03; and 12.1‑29‑01 through 12.1‑29‑03.

  • Define "sexual offense" to include violations of listed statutes (and equivalents), specifically: NDCC §§ 12.1‑20‑03, 12.1‑20‑03.1, 12.1‑20‑04 through 12.1‑20‑07, 12.1‑20‑11, 12.1‑20‑12.1, 12.1‑20‑12.2, 12.1‑20‑12.3, and chapter 12.1‑27.2.

  • Include attempts to commit the listed offenses within the scope of “crime against a child.”

Who is affected

  • Current and prospective K–12 educators and other individuals requiring a North Dakota teaching license: convictions (including pleas/deferred sentences) for the listed offenses can be the basis for denial or immediate revocation of a license.
  • The State Board of Education / licensing authority and school employers: enforcement and licensing decisions will rely on the clarified definitions.
  • Individuals with convictions overturned on appeal are explicitly excluded from the definition.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Source metadata indicates the bill was introduced March 7, 2025 and filed with the Secretary of State on March 14, 2025. Legislative entries in the supplied record show unanimous chamber votes (Senate 47–0; House 89–0) and further enrollment/signature steps; however, because the document contained material from multiple jurisdictions, readers should confirm current enactment status and effective date via the official North Dakota Legislative Branch or Secretary of State websites.

Practical impact

  • The amendment standardizes what constitutes a disqualifying conviction for licensure action and broadens clarity that various plea dispositions (including deferred sentences and suspended executions) count as convictions for these purposes.
  • This change reduces ambiguity for licensing authorities and may increase the number of license denials or revocations where the candidate/holder has one of the specified convictions or equivalent dispositions.

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

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