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SB 2083NORTH DAKOTASession 69State BillSigned into law
Enacted

North Dakota Designates Sensitive Images as Exempt Public Records

Original title: AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 44-04-18.7 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the designation of a sensitive image as an exempt record; and to amend and reenact section 44-04-17.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the definition of a sensitive image.

Last action · March 19, 2025: Filed with Secretary Of State 03/14

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

North Dakota defines sensitive images—including depictions of exposed intimate parts, gruesome injuries, deceased individuals, or minors—as s that public entities are not required to open to the public.

Why it matters

Changes public records access rules by allowing state and local agencies to withhold specific graphic or sensitive imagery from public inspection.

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

Public entities

Public agencies gain the legal discretion to withhold designated sensitive images from public records requests.

Directly affected

Members of the public

Individuals requesting government records no longer have an automatic right to access images defined as sensitive.

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

What is classified as a 'sensitive image' under this law?
A sensitive image is defined as an image depicting an exposed intimate part, a gruesome injury, a deceased individual, or a minor.
Are sensitive images completely confidential and banned from public view?
No, they are designated as 's', meaning a has the discretion to keep them closed to the public, but they are not automatically categorized as confidential or strictly prohibited from being opened.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

17 actions
  1. Mar 19, 2025
    Filed with Secretary Of State 03/14
  2. Mar 18, 2025SenateEnrolled
    Signed by Governor 03/14
  3. Mar 12, 2025SenateEnrolled
    Sent to Governor
  4. Mar 12, 2025Senate
    Signed by President
  5. Mar 12, 2025House
    Signed by Speaker
  6. Mar 10, 2025Senate
    Returned to Senate
Show 11 earlier actions
  1. Mar 7, 2025HouseFloor
    Second reading, passed, yeas 90 nays 0
  2. Mar 7, 2025HouseCommittee
    Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 12 0 2
  3. Feb 24, 2025HouseCommittee
    Committee Hearing 08:30
  4. Feb 19, 2025HouseCommittee
    Committee Hearing 02:30
  5. Feb 13, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
  6. Jan 21, 2025House
    Received from Senate
  7. Jan 20, 2025SenateFloor
    Second reading, passed, yeas 47 nays 0
  8. Jan 17, 2025SenateCommittee
    Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
  9. Jan 16, 2025SenateCommittee
    Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 7 0 0
  10. Jan 8, 2025SenateCommittee
    Committee Hearing 09:15
  11. Jan 7, 2025SenateIntroduced
    Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee

Version history

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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

North Dakota Century Code, Judiciary Committee, Highway Patrol
otherNorth Dakota Century Code“The codified laws of North Dakota being amended.”Map →
OrganizationJudiciary Committee“Introduced Senate Bill No. 2083 in the Senate.”Map →
OrganizationHighway Patrol“Requested the introduction of Senate Bill No. 2083.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

ndlegis.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance45
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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