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Bill Summary · HB 1467

HB 1467 — North Dakota (2025)

Amend and reenact NDCC § 23-12-22; create new reporting system for vaccine adverse events; require biennial legislative report; appropriate funds; sunset June 30, 2029.

Main purpose / intent

Establish a state-run system to record and compile reported vaccine adverse events, require mandatory reporting by health care providers, make state-specific vaccine-adverse-event information available on the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website, and deliver periodic reports to the Legislative Management. The bill also creates a dedicated fund to support the system and provides an initial appropriation.

Key provisions

  • Website and public information (amends § 23-12-22)

    • DHHS must prominently display on its website a link to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) with instructions on reporting and accessing state data.
    • DHHS may compile and publish its own state data for use on the website.
    • By July 1 of each even-numbered year, DHHS must provide to Legislative Management all state-specific data and a summary of national reported data (biennial report).

  • New statutory section (creates a vaccine adverse event data system)

    • Definitions: “department,” “health care provider,” “vaccine” (per CDC ACIP), and “vaccine administration error” (wrong/expired vaccine, incorrect route/site/dose, scheduling, preparation/storage, wrong individual).
    • Duties of DHHS:
    • Establish and administer a system to record/compile reported vaccine adverse events.
    • Designate which adverse events must be reported (including events required under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 and vaccine administration errors).
    • Set reporting timeframes and methods; develop reporting forms; adopt implementing rules.
    • Provide a comprehensive report to Legislative Management by July 1 of each even-numbered year summarizing reported data and system effectiveness.
    • Reporting obligations:
    • Health care providers who administer vaccines must report every occurrence of an adverse event on DHHS-prescribed forms.
    • Members of the public may also report adverse events in a department-prescribed manner.
    • Confidentiality and evidentiary protections:
    • Reports held by the department are confidential. Personally identifying information may not be disclosed except to the vaccine recipient (or parent/guardian/legal representative); aggregate/ de-identified statistics may be disclosed.
    • Department officers/employees cannot be compelled to testify about the existence or content of individual reports in judicial, legislative, or other proceedings (subject to other law).
    • Fund and appropriation:
    • Creates a Vaccine Adverse Event Data System Fund (state treasury) for system administration; interest and earnings credited to the fund; continuing appropriation to DHHS.
    • Appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to DHHS for establishing/ administering the system for the 2025–27 biennium.
    • Sunset/expiration:
    • The Act is effective through June 30, 2029; after that date it is ineffective (sunset).

Who is affected

  • Department of Health and Human Services: must build, operate, and report from the new system; adopt rules; manage funds.
  • Health care providers who administer vaccines: new mandatory reporting duties for designated adverse events and vaccine administration errors.
  • Members of the public: may submit adverse-event reports.
  • Individuals whose reports are submitted: afforded confidentiality protections; limited disclosure to the individual or their legal representative.
  • State budget: initial $100,000 appropriation; ongoing funding via the created fund (continuing appropriation).

Procedural / timeline notes and current status

  • Introduced: November 25, 2024.
  • Appropriation specified for biennium beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027.
  • Bill includes a statutory expiration: June 30, 2029.
  • Report requirement deadlines: biennial reports to Legislative Management by July 1 of even-numbered years.
  • Status (as provided): second reading — failed to pass (vote recorded as yeas 24, nays 69).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Administrative/IT cost: implementation will require DHHS resources and system development; the bill provides a modest initial appropriation ($100,000) and a continuing appropriation from the dedicated fund.
  • Provider burden: mandatory reporting adds reporting workload for vaccinators; timeframes and methods (to be specified by rule) will affect compliance costs.
  • Interplay with federal VAERS: the bill requires linking to VAERS and permits compiling state-specific data — potential duplication or need for data-sharing arrangements should be considered.
  • Privacy and legal protections: the bill emphasizes confidentiality and limits compelled testimony about reports; implications for public transparency and legal discovery may arise and could be addressed in implementing rules.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a one-page executive brief for legislators highlighting costs and operational needs; or
- Draft questions for DHHS or stakeholders to clarify implementation details (reporting timeframes, form design, IT requirements).

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

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