North Dakota’s House passed a bill this week requiring certain parents to undergo drug tests before regaining unsupervised visits with their children, a move aimed at bolstering child safety.

House Bill 1268, sponsored by Rep. Karen Rohr of Mandan, targets parents previously found guilty of drug abuse, whose children have been placed in alternative care.

The measure, approved by a 62-23 vote, allocates $95,000 to implement the testing program. While supporters argue it enforces accountability, critics say it duplicates existing procedures.

Grand Forks Rep. Zac Ista, a prosecutor, pushed back, asserting that social workers already possess the authority to conduct drug tests when necessary.

“Our human services zones already have this capability. They use it when concerns arise,” he said, pointing to cases where drug test results have been introduced as evidence in court.

Rep. Matt Ruby of Minot countered, arguing that current policies rely too heavily on parental self-reporting. “Right now, parents can simply state where their child will go if they use drugs, but there’s no real accountability enforcing that plan,” he said.

The bill does not apply to marijuana use. It now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

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