Bob Paulson

This bill pours large new appropriations into the Department of Health and Human Services, creates a new extraordinary medical needs housing loan fund, expands payment programs and committees, and even authorizes a line of credit for further government intervention. It entrenches a sprawling welfare and regulatory state rather than pursuing targeted, accountable reform. CPAC opposes unchecked growth in social service bureaucracy and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-05-01 by a vote of 37-9. The bill later became law.

This massive bill funds the university system, alters presidential search rules, expands the authority of the higher education commissioner and board, authorizes bonds for capital projects, and tinkers with tenure policy and various grant and scholarship programs. It mixes some conservative reforms with significant new spending and centralized control in higher education. CPAC favors deeper structural reform and spending restraint in higher ed and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-05-02 by a vote of 42-2. The bill later became law.

This bill amends school restroom policies to address transgender student accommodations and restroom use in public schools, establishes penalties for noncompliance, and declares an emergency, reinforcing that facilities correspond to biological sex. This bill protects student privacy and safety while pushing back against radical gender ideology in schools. CPAC supports defending biological reality and parental expectations in schools and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-28 by a vote of 40-7. The bill later became law.

This bill brings home rule counties and cities into closer conformity with state election laws and adjusts nominating petition signature thresholds in park districts. It limits local gamesmanship by ensuring uniform, predictable election rules across jurisdictions. CPAC supports consistent, transparent election standards and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-14 by a vote of 45-2. The bill later became law.

This bill creates a full chapter for authorizing and administering public charter schools and requires reporting to Legislative Management. It opens the door to more education options and competition within the public system. CPAC supports school choice and charter school expansion and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-15 by a vote of 39-7. The bill later became law.

This bill adjusts fees for hunting, fishing, and gun dog activities and revises licensing requirements for hunting guides and outfitters. While it clarifies some licensing rules, it also raises the cost of lawful outdoor activities for sportsmen. CPAC opposes unnecessary fee hikes on hunters and anglers and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-02 by a vote of 43-3. The bill later became law.

This bill revises how school districts seek voter approval to exceed debt limits, modifies requirements for municipal bond elections, and updates ballot content provisions. It aims to provide clearer, more transparent standards for asking taxpayers to assume new debt obligations. CPAC supports transparency and voter control over government borrowing and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-16 by a vote of 43-4. The bill later became law.

This bill updates what projects the state energy research center may pursue, ensuring its work is directed toward specific, authorized energy initiatives. It can help keep taxpayer-funded research more accountable and aligned with practical energy needs rather than ideological agendas. CPAC supports responsible, results-oriented energy research and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-15 by a vote of 43-3. The bill later became law.

This bill adjusts the reduced oil extraction tax rate for oil from new wells drilled and completed outside the Bakken and Three Forks formations and orders a study on the policy, with a specified effective date. It lowers targeted tax burdens to encourage development of additional oil resources and jobs. CPAC supports lower energy taxes and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-31 by a vote of 42-3. The bill later became law.

This bill establishes a universal licensure framework and sets operational standards for occupational boards so qualified professionals from other jurisdictions can more easily obtain North Dakota licenses. It pushes back against protectionist licensing barriers that block workers and drive up costs. CPAC opposes unnecessary occupational licensing and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-02-25 by a vote of 45-1. The bill later became law.

This bill creates a new section on academic tenure policy for higher education institutions, giving the state more say over tenure rules and potentially curbing guaranteed lifetime positions. It opens the door to more accountability for professors who misuse tenure as a shield for ideological indoctrination instead of teaching and research. CPAC supports higher-ed accountability and limits on entrenched tenure and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-26 by a vote of 28-19. The bill later became law.

This bill requires public higher education institutions to accept health care sharing ministries and expressly exempts those ministries from state insurance laws and regulations. It protects religious and community-based alternatives to traditional insurance from regulatory strangling. CPAC supports religious liberty and free-market health care options and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-02-17 by a vote of 44-1. The bill later became law.

This bill creates civil liability and penalties for commercial entities that publish or distribute sexual material harmful to minors. It puts real consequences on platforms that profit from exposing children to explicit content. CPAC supports protecting children from online pornography and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-21 by a vote of 47-0. The bill later became law.

This bill revises requirements governing bonding elections, including how measures are presented to voters. It aims to ensure that when government takes on new debt, voters receive clearer information and stronger safeguards. CPAC supports transparency and voter control over public debt and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-18 by a vote of 44-2. The bill later became law.

This bill creates a new offense for interference with court-ordered parenting time, establishes a child custody review task force, and imposes penalties on those who obstruct a parent's lawful access to their children. It defends fit parents from being cut out of their children's lives by vindictive ex-partners. CPAC supports robust enforcement of parental rights and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-16 by a vote of 27-20. The bill later became law.

This bill revises requirements for conducting and reporting post-election audits. It seeks more consistent, credible checks on election results so voters can have confidence that ballots are properly counted. CPAC supports transparent, rigorous election audits and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-01-28 by a vote of 47-0. The bill later became law.