Senate Bill 2199 Related to Transgender Pronoun Usage and Enforcement Fails

A bill to redefine gender in North Dakota law has failed. Senate Bill 2199 proposed to limit gender definitions in state law to either male or female as determined at birth and created a $1,500 penalty for violation of the law. The bill was given a Do Not Pass recommendation in committee following considerable opposing testimony due to language ambiguity and enforceability questions.

Following the committee’s recommendation, it failed on the Senate floor on Friday by a vote of 39-8. Additional bills related to gender and sexuality remain in the legislative process.

SB 2199: A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 1-01-34 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to gender usage in the North Dakota Century Code; and to provide a penalty.

YES: Clemens; Conley; Dwyer; Larsen; Magrum; Rust; Vedaa; Weston

No: Axtman; Barta; Beard; Bekkedahl; Boehm; Braunberger; Burckhard; Cleary;Davison; Dever; Elkin; Erbele; Estenson; Hogan; Hogue; Kannianen; Kessel; Klein; Krebsbach; Kreun; Larson; Lee; Lemm; Luick; Mathern; Meyer; Myrdal; Patten; Paulson; Piepkorn; Roers, J.; Roers, K.; Rummel; Schaible; Sickler; Sorvaag; Wanzek; Weber; Wobbema

Minot area Senators are highlighted in bold.