North DakotaNorth Dakota colleges limit public access to admissions applications
North Dakota colleges overseen by the State Board of Higher Education keep admissions records exempt, destroy them on an eligible request, and limit access and disclosure.
What it does
Records related to applications to North Dakota colleges and universities overseen by the State Board of Higher Education are exempt from disclosure, unless another law provides otherwise.
The record must be destroyed when the applicant asks, or when a parent or guardian asks for someone who was under 18 at the time of applying, subject to state record-retention requirements.
People may access or disclose these records only while carrying out regular duties as an employee of a covered institution, unless another provision of the chapter allows it.
Argument forLimiting access to applications could help protect applicants’ personal information from public disclosure.
Argument againstKeeping applications from public access could make it harder for people to review how covered colleges handle admissions.
More detail
The law treats covered application records as exempt from disclosure. This covers records related to applications to higher education institutions overseen by the State Board of Higher Education. Other laws may provide otherwise.
The record must be destroyed when an eligible person requests it. This applies to records related to the covered admission applications. The request may come from the applicant, or from a parent or guardian if the applicant was under 18 when applying. Destruction must follow state record-retention requirements.
People may access or disclose an exempt record only while carrying out regular duties as an employee of a covered institution. This applies to exempt application records under this section. Other provisions of the chapter may provide otherwise.
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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 25Filed with Secretary Of State 04/23Latest
- Apr 24Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong 04/23Became Law
- Apr 22Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Apr 22Signed by Speaker
- Apr 21Signed by President
- Apr 17Second reading, passed, yeas 89 nays 0, Emergency clause carriedMajor
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1542. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 17Concurred
- Apr 11Returned to House (12)
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1542. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 11Emergency clause carried
- Apr 11Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 46 nays 0Passed Senate
- Apr 11Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Apr 10Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 0 0Minor
- Mar 19Committee Hearing 11:00
- Mar 7Introduced, first reading, (emergency), referred Education CommitteeMinor
- Feb 24Received from House
- Feb 21Second reading, passed, yeas 87 nays 2, Emergency clause carriedPassed House
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1542. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 13 1 0Minor
- Feb 12Committee Hearing 02:30
- Jan 20Introduced, first reading, (emergency), referred Education CommitteeIntroduced
Government & Ethics