A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-60 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of an office of entrepreneurship; and to provide for a legislative management report.
HB1191 would create a new Office of Entrepreneurship within the North Dakota Department of Commerce. The office would be tasked with strengthening state policies and programs that support entrepreneurship across demographic groups and regions, working with stakeholders to improve entrepreneurs’ skills, provide technical assistance, and expand access to resources. It would also serve as a point of contact for businesses operating less than five years old when they interact with state agencies, and could refer those businesses to other state or local assistance programs when appropriate.
The bill also requires the office to submit an annual report to Legislative Management by August each year. That report would summarize work completed, stakeholder events, the number of participating young businesses, recommendations for improving entrepreneurship in North Dakota, and any regional challenges or other relevant information. In addition, the bill makes financial records and records containing financial information created or received under the section exempt from public records disclosure under the state’s open records law.
If enacted, HB1191 would add a new program and administrative function within the Department of Commerce, creating a formal state office focused on entrepreneurship support and coordination. It would not directly change tax rates, licensing standards, or business formation rules, but it would require state agencies to cooperate with the new office and would create a new reporting obligation to Legislative Management. The bill also amends public-records treatment by exempting certain financial records associated with the office’s work from disclosure under section 44-04-17.1.
Based on the bill text and available history, the measure appears to have been framed as a pro-business, economic-development initiative aimed at helping startups and early-stage businesses navigate state resources. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided showing detailed debate, but the bill’s failure on April 8, 2025 suggests it did not secure enough support to advance. Overall, the concept is consistent with a generally supportive posture toward entrepreneurship, though the final outcome indicates insufficient legislative backing.
The main potential points of contention are likely to have been the need for a new office versus using existing Department of Commerce resources, the requirement that state agencies cooperate with the office, and the public-records exemption for financial information. Some lawmakers may have questioned whether the office would duplicate existing business-assistance functions or create additional administrative costs. Others may have been concerned about transparency implications of exempting records from disclosure, especially where public funds or financial information are involved.