North Dakota makes petition records exempt while the Secretary of State checks sufficiency

Original title: AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 44-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the exempt status of records related to petitions in possession of the secretary of state.

Last action · March 31, 2025: Filed with Secretary Of State 03/27Sponsors: Stemen, Gregory and 8 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Does

North Dakota shields petition records held by the Secretary of State from public inspection until the office rules on the petition's or 35 days pass, whichever happens first.

Why it matters

Temporarily keeps initiative and referendum petition paperwork out of the public view during the initial review window, altering public access rules under the state open records law.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Secretary of State

Must manage petition records under the new temporary exemption rule before determining sufficiency.

Directly affected

Members of the public

Experience a delayed ability to access petition-related records during the initial 35-day or review window.

Key Facts

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can the public view petition records immediately when the Secretary of State receives them?

No. The records are exempt until the Secretary of State determines the petition's or until 35 days have passed since receipt, whichever occurs first.

Does this exemption apply to all petitions?

It applies to records received by the Secretary of State related to a request for approval of a petition to initiate or refer a measure.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

15 actions

Mar 31, 2025
Filed with Secretary Of State 03/27
Mar 28, 2025HouseEnrolled
Signed by Governor 03/26
Mar 25, 2025HouseEnrolled
Sent to Governor
Mar 25, 2025House
Signed by Speaker
Mar 24, 2025Senate
Signed by President
Mar 19, 2025House
Returned to House

Show 9 earlier actions

Mar 18, 2025SenateFloor
Second reading, passed, yeas 45 nays 1
Mar 14, 2025SenateCommittee
Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 6 0 0
Mar 13, 2025SenateCommittee
Committee Hearing 10:45
Feb 13, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced, first reading, referred State and Local Government Committee
Jan 20, 2025Senate
Received from House
Jan 17, 2025HouseFloor
Second reading, passed, yeas 90 nays 0
Jan 16, 2025HouseCommittee
Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 12 0 1
Jan 16, 2025HouseCommittee
Committee Hearing 02:45
Jan 7, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Political Subdivisions Committee

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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