SB 2079 amends North Dakota Century Code section 25-01-01 to revise and expand the statutory definition of “mental health professional” for purposes of Title 25. The bill creates a tiered classification system, dividing mental health professionals into four tiers based on licensure, discipline, and level of clinical independence. Tier 1 includes psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses; Tier 2 includes independent clinicians such as licensed clinical social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, addiction counselors, and registered nurses; Tier 3 includes a broader set of licensed and related professionals such as associate counselors, social workers, occupational therapists, licensed practical nurses, behavior analysts, vocational rehabilitation counselors, school psychologists, and human relations counselors; and Tier 4 includes direct care associates, technicians, and certified peer support specialists.
The bill’s practical effect is to update state law so that agencies and programs using the term “mental health professional” can rely on a more detailed and structured definition. This may affect eligibility, staffing, supervision, referral, evaluation, and service-delivery rules across behavioral health and human services programs administered under Title 25 and related statutes. By expressly recognizing a wider range of licensed and support roles, the bill likely broadens the pool of professionals who may be counted for certain duties or program requirements, while also distinguishing between levels of clinical authority.
The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable. It passed the Senate 47-0 and the House 93-0, indicating unanimous support in both chambers. The bill was introduced at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services, suggesting executive-branch support and a technical or administrative purpose rather than a controversial policy change.
There is little evidence of substantive opposition or debate in the available record. The main point of legislative interest is the scope of the new tiered definitions and whether various professions should be included in each tier, but no recorded committee testimony or floor controversy is available. The absence of dissenting votes suggests the bill was viewed as a clarifying measure intended to align statutory language with current behavioral health workforce practice.
SB 2079 amends section 25-01-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, changing the statutory definition of “mental health professional” and adding a four-tier framework that identifies specific licensed professions and support roles. This update affects how state law classifies providers in mental health and human services settings, and it may influence program administration, credentialing, supervision standards, and eligibility determinations wherever Title 25 or related provisions use that term.
The bill appears to have been received positively and without controversy. It passed both chambers unanimously, 47-0 in the Senate and 93-0 in the House, and there is no record of committee opposition or floor debate in the materials provided. The request came from the Department of Health and Human Services, which suggests the measure was treated as a technical or workforce-alignment update rather than a contested policy change.
No notable contention is reflected in the available record. The only potentially sensitive issue is the breadth of the tiered definition—specifically which professions are included in each tier and what authority or responsibilities those tiers may carry—but there is no evidence of disagreement among legislators, agencies, or stakeholders in the provided transcripts or votes.