Bill > SB2222

This bill modifies North Dakota's laws regarding assistance and service animals, introducing stricter regulations for documentation and sales. The bill defines key terms like "assistance animal" (an animal providing emotional support or performing tasks for individuals with disabilities), "service animal" (specifically a dog trained to assist individuals with disabilities), and establishes requirements for healthcare providers issuing documentation for assistance animals. Healthcare providers must now be actively licensed, conduct in-person or remote assessments, perform clinical evaluations, and include specific details in documentation, such as effective dates, license numbers, and evidence of a therapeutic relationship. The bill also mandates that sellers of assistance animals provide written notice that these animals are not specially trained service animals and do not have the same legal rights. Additionally, the bill creates penalties for individuals or healthcare providers who misrepresent disability status or assistance animal needs, with infractions escalating from first to subsequent offenses. Importantly, the bill emphasizes that these new regulations do not restrict existing federal or state laws protecting individuals' rights to reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.

Business and Industry, Military Affairs and Security

https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo2222.html