The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.North Dakota restricts public access to autopsy reports and visual records while regulating funeral practice exceptions
Last action · March 19, 2025: Filed with Secretary Of State 03/14
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
North Dakota classifies s, , notes, and visual records as confidential, establishing strict disclosure rules for family members, medical professionals, and criminal justice agencies. The law also defines specific exceptions for funeral practices, allowing certain nonprofessional tasks, emergency transportation, and clergy services.
The measure determines who can access sensitive post-mortem records and autopsy images, balancing public transparency and criminal investigations against family privacy and scientific research needs.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Next of Kin
Family members are granted rights to notification, report of death access, and in-person viewing of autopsy images under specific conditions.
Medical Examiners and Coroners
Officials gain explicit guidelines on confidentiality, record disclosure obligations, and immunity when releasing information in good faith.
Funeral Service Providers
Establishments and their unlicensed employees operate under clarified statutory exceptions for handling cremated remains and nonprofessional tasks.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is allowed to view autopsy photographs of a deceased family member?
When does a report of death become a public record?
Are unlicensed individuals permitted to perform any funeral-related tasks?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
16 actions- Mar 19, 2025Filed with Secretary Of State 03/14
- Mar 18, 2025HouseEnrolledSigned by Governor 03/14
- Mar 13, 2025HouseEnrolledSent to Governor
- Mar 13, 2025HouseSigned by Speaker
- Mar 12, 2025SenateSigned by President
- Feb 25, 2025HouseReturned to House
Show 10 earlier actions
- Feb 25, 2025SenateFloorSecond reading, passed, yeas 44 nays 1
- Feb 21, 2025SenateCommitteeReported back, do pass, place on calendar 6 0 0
- Feb 17, 2025SenateCommitteeCommittee Hearing 02:45
- Feb 11, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee
- Feb 10, 2025SenateReceived from House
- Feb 7, 2025HouseFloorSecond reading, passed, yeas 91 nays 0
- Feb 6, 2025HouseCommitteeAmendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Feb 5, 2025HouseCommitteeReported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 11 0 2
- Jan 8, 2025HouseCommitteeCommittee Hearing 01:45
- Jan 7, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced, first reading, referred Human Services 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.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Connected Entities
Sources
ndlegis.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools