Senate approves bill tightening occupational therapy checks and adding physician nutrition training

The North Dakota Senate on the special-session floor approved Senate Bill 2401, which adds criminal-history record checks to occupational therapy practice requirements and establishes a minimum continuing-education requirement in nutrition and metabolic health for physicians.

Sponsor Senator Meerdal told colleagues the bill helps the state meet criteria for rural health funding and requires physicians to complete “a minimum 1 hour continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health,” with renewal expected every two years. “It’s a pretty easy bill I would think for us to support,” the sponsor said, asking senators for an affirmative vote.

The bill’s engrossed text amends multiple sections of the North Dakota Century Code to add a new subdivision to 12-60-24 and to amend section 43-17-27.1 regarding physician continuing education, and it includes a legislative intent statement and an effective date in the engrossed version.

Senators recorded a final tally of 44 yeas and 2 nays on final passage; the secretary announced the bill has passed.

The bill’s sponsor framed the measure as a straightforward fix and part of a package intended to position the state competitively for rural‑health funding; no amendments to the enacted continuing-education wording were recorded on the floor. The Senate moved on to other items after passage.