Bill
HB 1270
Creates centralized complaints route to the governor after adverse licensing decisions by ND boards; requires annual licensing data reports and governor investigations.
Title: An Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 43 and a new section to chapter 54‑07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the duties of occupational and professional boards and the receipt by the office of the governor of complaints following licensing decisions of occupational and professional boards; and to provide for a report.
Status: Withdrawn from further consideration / Died in House committee at sine die adjournment (May 5, 2025).
Introduced / Filed: November 13, 2024. Read first time: March 10, 2025. Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs.
Purpose and intent
- Establish statewide procedures to increase transparency and a centralized pathway for complaints after adverse licensing decisions by occupational or professional regulatory boards.
- Require regular reporting from boards to the governor to improve oversight and data collection about board licensing activity.
Key provisions
- Definitions
- “Board” — any board, commission, or agency under Title 43 that regulates an occupation or profession.
- “Occupation or profession” — activities requiring a board-issued license (or foreign equivalent).
- Board duties
- Each board must adopt rules to implement the new chapter.
- Boards must post on their websites clear instructions on how to submit a complaint to the governor’s office following an adverse licensing decision by the board or one of its members.
- Annual reporting to the governor
- Boards must submit an annual report (format and manner as specified by the governor) including, for the prior calendar year:
- A summary of board activity.
- Counts of licensees issued.
- Counts of license applicants, broken down by total, in‑state vs out‑of‑state, new vs renewing.
- Counts of former licensees who failed to renew.
- Governor’s office role
- The governor must develop a procedure to receive complaints from individuals who have experienced an adverse licensing decision and must establish a procedure to investigate such complaints.
Who would be affected
- Occupational and professional boards (administrative rulemaking, reporting, website updates).
- Current and prospective licensees (new channel to file complaints after adverse licensing outcomes).
- Governor’s office (responsibility to receive and investigate complaints; additional administrative workload).
- Members of the public who seek recourse after licensing decisions.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Increases transparency and creates a centralized escalation path for applicants/licensees dissatisfied with board licensing decisions.
- Administrative impacts: boards must adopt implementing rules, collect and report specified data annually, and update websites; the governor’s office must create intake and investigative procedures and manage potentially increased complaint volume.
- No funding provisions included in the text; implementation could require staff time or resources at the affected agencies.
Legislative outcome / timeline highlights
- Introduced November 13, 2024; read March 10, 2025; referred to appropriate committee.
- Placed on committee agendas and readings in spring 2025 but ultimately died in House committee at sine die adjournment (May 5, 2025) and was withdrawn from further consideration.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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