North Dakota Senate Bill SB2071

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/7/25
• Refer: 1/7/25
• Report Pass: 2/11/25
• Engrossed: 2/13/25
• Refer: 2/18/25
• Report Pass: 3/7/25
• Enrolled: 3/14/25
• Passed: 3/18/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend and reenact section 43-47-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the duties and responsibilities of the board of counselor examiners.

Summary

SB 2071 amends North Dakota Century Code section 43-47-03, which governs the Board of Counselor Examiners. The bill updates the board’s statutory duties and responsibilities, including its authority to publish an annual list of licensed counselors, approve and administer counselor examinations, set and collect fees by rule, manage board funds, establish continuing education requirements, issue provisional or probationary licenses, create a code of ethics, and adopt rules needed to implement the chapter. Substantively, the bill appears to be a housekeeping or administrative update to the counselor licensing framework rather than a major policy change. It clarifies and restates the board’s powers over licensure, fees, ethics, continuing education, and rulemaking, and it specifically references technology services as a fee category. The bill affects the Board of Counselor Examiners, licensed counselors, applicants for licensure, and individuals seeking renewal or provisional/probationary licensure in North Dakota.

Impact

The bill amends the state’s professional licensing law for counselors by revising the duties of the Board of Counselor Examiners in Chapter 43-47 of the Century Code. It reinforces the board’s authority to regulate the profession through examinations, licensure fees, continuing education standards, ethics rules, and administrative rulemaking, while also confirming how fees and moneys are to be handled under state finance law. The practical effect is to maintain and clarify the regulatory structure for counselor licensure and oversight in North Dakota.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 46-1 and the House 89-2, indicating strong bipartisan approval and little opposition. The lack of committee transcript discussion suggests the measure was likely viewed as a routine professional regulation update requested by the Board of Counselor Examiners rather than a disputed policy proposal.

Contention

There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. The only visible opposition is a small number of dissenting votes in each chamber, but no committee testimony or debate is provided to explain the objections. Any concerns would likely have centered on the board’s regulatory authority, fee-setting powers, or administrative burden on licensees, but the record does not show specific arguments or organized opposition.