North DakotaLaw sets felony penalties for assault against certain workers
Simple assault against certain workers doing their jobs or people taking part in court proceedings is a class C felony, a more serious crime.
What it does
Simple assault can be a class C felony when it targets certain workers doing covered duties or someone in a court proceeding. Other cases are class B misdemeanors.
Argument forFelony penalties could discourage assaults on covered workers, helping protect people who provide emergency care and carry out public duties.
Argument againstPeople who injure covered workers through careless use of dangerous weapons could face felony consequences even without intending to cause injury.
More detail
The law treats covered simple assaults as class C felonies. Other simple assaults are class B misdemeanors, a less serious category of crime. Covered victims include police, correctional staff, state hospital staff, and people taking part in court proceedings. They also include municipal or volunteer firefighters, emergency medical responders, and emergency department or hospital workers. Police and correctional staff must be acting officially, and the person causing injury must know that. For state hospital staff, the person causing injury must know the worker is doing their job and must be committed to or detained at that hospital under chapter 25-03.3. Firefighters and emergency medical responders must be performing their duties. Emergency department and hospital workers must be providing essential patient care while performing their duties. Simple assault covers bodily injury caused willfully or through careless use of a weapon likely to cause death or serious bodily injury.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Apr 21Filed with Secretary Of State 04/17Latest
- Apr 18Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong 04/15Became Law
- Apr 14Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Apr 14Signed by Speaker
- Apr 9Signed by President
- Apr 7Second reading, passed, yeas 68 nays 21Major
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1341. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7Concurred
- Mar 31Returned to House (12)
- Mar 28Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 37 nays 8Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1341. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 27Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Mar 26Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 4 3 0Minor
- Mar 11Committee Hearing 10:00
- Feb 13Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 3Received from House
- Jan 31Second reading, passed, yeas 68 nays 21Passed House
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1341. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 8 6 0Minor
- Jan 28Committee Hearing 02:00
- Jan 28Committee Hearing 11:30
- Jan 13Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary CommitteeIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety