A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 36-01-36 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the administration of a federally sponsored animal identification program by the state veterinarian; and to repeal sections 4.1-72-05 and 4.1-72-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating the administration of a federally sponsored animal identification program and records relating to the program.
HB 1230 would revise North Dakota law governing a federally sponsored animal identification program for cattle, horses, and mules. The bill designates the state veterinarian as the state’s administrator and allocator for the program and directs the board to keep information created, collected, or maintained for premises identification, animal identification, and animal tracking confidential. That confidential information includes identifying details about the owner or lessee of property where an animal is found or located.
The bill also specifies narrow exceptions when the information may be disclosed, including with written consent, when authorized by federal law, for animal disease control or tracing, to the attorney general or law enforcement in a criminal investigation, by court order, or to provide information to the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association under existing law. It further makes violations subject to the remedies in the state open-records enforcement statute and treats certain contractors handling the database as “public entities” for enforcement purposes. Finally, HB 1230 would repeal two existing Century Code sections tied to administration and records for the program, consolidating and updating the statutory framework.
HB 1230 would change how North Dakota administers and protects records for a federally sponsored animal identification and tracking program by placing express responsibility with the state veterinarian and by creating a specific confidentiality regime for premises, animal, and tracking data. It would limit public-records access to this information under Chapter 44-04 and replace prior statutory provisions in Chapter 4.1-72 by repealing sections 4.1-72-05 and 4.1-72-06. The bill would affect livestock owners, lessees, the state veterinarian, the board, law enforcement, the attorney general, the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, and any private contractors operating the database.
Based on the available context, the bill appears to have been a relatively technical administrative measure rather than a highly controversial proposal. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, and the bill was ultimately withdrawn on January 14, 2025. The text suggests an emphasis on confidentiality, disease-control coordination, and streamlined administration, which typically indicates a policy goal of improving program management rather than expanding regulation broadly.
The main potential point of contention is the bill’s confidentiality provisions, which would shield animal identification and tracking records from open-records disclosure except in specified circumstances. That could concern transparency advocates or parties seeking access to property-owner and livestock-location information, while likely being supported by agricultural interests, the state veterinarian, and law-enforcement or animal-health officials who value privacy and traceability. Another possible issue is the bill’s treatment of contractors as public entities for enforcement purposes, which could raise questions about compliance obligations and liability.