Tim Mathern is a Democratic state senator from District 11 in Fargo who took office in 1986 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2][3]A social worker by training, he is director of public policy at Prairie St. John's Hospital.[1][2]
Tim Mathern earned a B.A. in sociology from North Dakota State University in 1971, an M.S.W. from the University of Nebraska in 1980, and an M.P.A. from Harvard University in 2000.[1]He worked as a child welfare caseworker, as supervisor of social services with Catholic Family Service, and as director of public policy for Prairie Saint John's.[1]
Mathern assumed office in the North Dakota Senate in 1986.[1]Ballotpedia lists him as a candidate for governor in 2008, with Merle Boucher as his running mate, in a general election won by incumbent John Hoeven.[1]His 2025 assignments include the Appropriations Committee and its Human Resources Division, and he is vice chair of the interim Tribal and State Relations Committee.[2]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
Relating to the gaming commission, gaming stamp requirements, and the attorney general's regulation of gaming; to provide a penalty; and to provide an appropriation.
Relating to immunity and a defense for individuals voting on legislation, closure of a matter of the ethics commission, rules for complaint management time standards, and an ethics commission annual report; to amend and reenact sections 12.1‑13‑02, 54‑66‑01, 54‑66‑04, 54‑66‑05, 54‑66‑06, and 54‑66‑07, subsection 2 of section 54‑66‑08, and sections 54‑66‑09, 54‑66‑10, 54‑66‑12, and 54‑66‑18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to immunity from criminal prosecution, definitions, ethics commission meetings, complaints, an informal resolution process, law enforcement referrals, findings,…
Relating to an office of guardianship and conservatorship and the removal of a guardian; to amend and reenact section 30.1‑29‑15 and subsection 1 of section 50‑24.1‑07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the removal of a conservator and the recovery of medical assistance expenses; to repeal chapter 27‑27 and section 54‑68‑02.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the task force on guardianship monitoring and transition requirements; to provide a penalty; to provide for a report; to provide an appropriation; to provide a continuing appropriation; to provide for a transfer;…
Relating to interference with court-ordered parenting time; to create a child custody review task force; to provide for a legislative management report; and to provide a penalty.
Relating to the definition of a public library, required safety policies and technology protection measures, and the state's attorney's review of public libraries, school districts, and state agencies for compliance with statutes protecting minors from explicit sexual material; to amend and reenact subsection 5 of section 12.1‑27.1‑01, subsection 2 of section 12.1‑27.1‑03.1, and sections 12.1‑27.1‑03.5 and 12.1‑27.1‑11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to obscenity control; to provide for a report to the legislative management; and to provide a penalty.
Relating to the life skills and transition center; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide for a department of health and human services study; and to provide an expiration date.
Relating to out‑of‑pocket expenses for prescription drugs; to amend and reenact section 26.1‑36.6‑03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to self‑insurance health care plans; to provide for application; and to provide an effective date.
Relating to offering school breakfast and lunch at no cost and the school meals fund; to provide an appropriation; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date.
Relating to an education savings account program for students who are not enrolled in public school or a homeschool program; to provide an appropriation; and to provide an effective date.
Relating to the definition of a public library, required safety policies and technology protection measures, and the state's attorney's review of public libraries, school districts, and state agencies for compliance with statutes protecting minors from explicit sexual material; to amend and reenact subsection 5 of section 12.1‑27.1‑01, subsection 2 of section 12.1‑27.1‑03.1, and sections 12.1‑27.1‑03.5 and 12.1‑27.1‑11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to obscenity control; to provide for a report to the legislative management; and to provide a penalty.
Relating to critical minerals and rare earth minerals and royalties; to amend and reenact sections 38‑12‑01 and 47‑10‑24 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the definitions of critical minerals and rare earth minerals and descriptions and definitions of minerals in leases and conveyances; and to provide for retroactive application.
Relating to onsite wastewater treatment systems; to amend and reenact sections 23‑35‑02 and 23‑35‑08 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the powers and duties of the boards of health and public health units; to repeal sections 23‑35‑02.2 and 23‑35‑02.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the onsite wastewater recycling technical committee; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide a penalty; and to provide an appropriation.
As amended, appropriates $5 million from the strategic investment and improvements fund to the Department of Commerce for slum and blight removal grants to political subdivisions in communities under 4,500 people, requires dollar-for-dollar nonstate matching funds, and requires a report by June 30, 2026.
Voted against most of their party on 4 of 36 party-divided votes on file.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 15.1-27-04.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the option for a school district to reduce its local contribution deduction in the school state aid formula by the percentage of the local contribution which comes from in lieu of revenue.
What it does: Relating to the option for a school district to reduce its local contribution deduction in the school state aid formula by the percentage of the local contribution which comes from in lieu of revenue.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–3, Republicans 21–20
AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 44-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the opportunity to provide public comment at a meeting of a public entity.
What it does: Relating to the opportunity to provide public comment at a meeting of a public entity.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–3, Republicans 41–1
AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 25-04-00.1, 25-04-02, 25-04-04, 25-04-04.1, 25-04-05, 25-04-05.1, 25-04-08, 25-04-08.1, 25-04-14, and 25-04-17 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the life skills and transition center; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide for a department of health and human services study; and to provide an expiration date.
What it does: Relating to the life skills and transition center; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide for a department of health and human services study; and to provide an expiration date.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 2–3, Republicans 34–8
AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the use of personal electronic devices during instructional time.
What it does: Relating to the use of personal electronic devices during instructional time.
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 3–2, Republicans 16–24
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
SB 2408 · ND SENATE
A BILL for an Act to create and enact subdivision lll of subsection 3 of section 19-03.1-05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the scheduling of kratom alkaloids and kratom alkaloid derivatives as a schedule I controlled substance; to amend and reenact section 19-03.1-22.3 and subsection 7 of section 19-03.1-23 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to penalties for the use and possession of kratom alkaloids and kratom alkaloid derivatives; to provide a penalty; and to provide an effective date.
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion for Final Passage on SB 2408
Relating to the scheduling of kratom alkaloids and kratom alkaloid derivatives as a schedule I controlled substance; to amend and reenact section 19‑03.1‑22.3 and subsection 7 of section 19‑03.1‑23 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to penalties for the use and possession of kratom alkaloids and kratom alkaloid derivatives; to provide a penalty; and to provide an effective date.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact chapter 44-04.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to prohibiting agencies from entering nondisclosure agreements concerning data centers and industrial projects; to provide a penalty; to provide an effective date; and to provide an expiration date.
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion for Final Passage on SB 2406
Relating to prohibiting agencies from entering nondisclosure agreements concerning data centers and industrial projects; to provide a penalty; to provide an effective date; and to provide an expiration date.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 57-02-08.9, section 57-20-09, and subsection 1 of section 57-55-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the order of application of the primary residence credit and discount for early payment of tax; and to provide an effective date.
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion for Final Passage on SB 2405
Relating to the order of application of the primary residence credit and discount for early payment of tax; and to provide an effective date.
AN ACT to provide an appropriation to the state historical society for the North Dakota military museum project; to amend and reenact section 55-01-02.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to jurisdiction of the heritage center; to repeal subsection 3 of section 6 of chapter 17 of the 2025 Session Laws, relating to a donation pledge requirement to access funding from the strategic investment and improvements fund; to provide a statement of legislative intent; to authorize a line of credit; to provide for a report; and to provide an effective date.
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion for Final Passage on SB 2407
Relating to jurisdiction of the heritage center; to repeal subsection 3 of section 6 of chapter 17 of the 2025 Session Laws, relating to a donation pledge requirement to access funding from the strategic investment and improvements fund; to provide a statement of legislative intent; to authorize a line of credit; to provide for a report; and to provide an effective date.
AN ACT to amend and reenact subdivision d of subsection 1 of section 57-02-08.9, section 57-20-09, and subsection 1 of section 57-55-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to application of the primary residence credit and discount for early payment of tax; and to provide an effective date.
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion for Final Passage on HB 1626
Relating to application of the primary residence credit and discount for early payment of tax; and to provide an effective date.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact two new sections to chapter 15.1-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to offering school breakfast and lunch at no cost and the school meals fund; to provide an appropriation; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date.
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion for Final Passage on HB 1624
Relating to offering school breakfast and lunch at no cost and the school meals fund; to provide an appropriation; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact two new sections to chapter 15.1-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to offering school breakfast and lunch at no cost and the school meals fund; to provide an appropriation; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date.
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion for Consideration of Amendments on HB 1624
A yes vote would adopt a floor amendment replacing HB 1624's free school meals provisions with a raise in the primary residence property tax credit limit from $1,600 to $2,050, funded by a $65 million appropriation. (AI-written)
Relating to offering school breakfast and lunch at no cost and the school meals fund; to provide an appropriation; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date.
AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 15.1-21-01 and section 15.1-21-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to requiring the presidential physical fitness test in physical education courses in elementary, middle, and high schools and providing exceptions to the test; and to provide an effective date.
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion for Final Passage on HB 1621
Relating to requiring the presidential physical fitness test in physical education courses in elementary, middle, and high schools and providing exceptions to the test; and to provide an effective date.
AN ACT to create and enact a new subdivision to subsection 2 of section 12-60-24 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to criminal history record checks by the board of occupational therapy practice; to amend and reenact section 43-17-27.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to physician continuing education requirements; to provide a statement of legislative intent; and to provide an effective date.
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion for Final Passage on SB 2401
Relating to criminal history record checks by the board of occupational therapy practice; to amend and reenact section 43‑17‑27.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to physician continuing education requirements; to provide a statement of legislative intent; and to provide an effective date.
AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the industrial commission and the agencies under its control; to create and enact a new section to chapter 6-09 and a new subdivision to subsection 2 of section 38-08-04.5 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a rail revolving loan fund and uses of the abandoned oil and gas well plugging and site reclamation fund; to amend and reenact subsection 7 of section 6-08.1-02 and sections 6-09-35, 6-09-46.2, 6-09.7-05, 6-09.14-04, and 49-17.1-02.1, subsection 1 of section 54-17-40, and subdivision a of subsection 4 of section 54-17.7-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, and section 15 of chapter 14 of the 2023 Session Laws, relating to confidential and exempt records of the Bank of North Dakota, the rebuilders loan program, loan guarantees through the strategic investment and improvements fund, interest rate buydown limits for the partnership in assisting community expansion fund, department of transportation review and approval of rail projects, uses of the housing incentive fund, North Dakota pipeline borrowing authority, and a salt cavern underground energy storage research project; to repeal section 3 of Senate Bill No. 2188, as approved by the sixty-ninth legislative assembly, relating to a transfer from the strategic investment and improvements fund to the clean sustainable energy fund; to provide a deficiency appropriation; to provide for a transfer; to provide an exemption; to provide for a legislative management study; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide for a report; to provide an effective date; and to declare an emergency.
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion for Final Passage on SB 2014
Relating to a rail revolving loan fund and uses of the abandoned oil and gas well plugging and site reclamation fund; to amend and reenact subsection 7 of section 6‑08.1‑02 and sections 6‑09‑35, 6‑09‑46.2, 6‑09.7‑05, 6‑09.14‑04, and 49‑17.1‑02.1, subsection 1 of section 54‑17‑40, and subdivision a of subsection 4 of section 54‑17.7‑04 of the North Dakota Century Code, and section 15 of chapter 14 of the 2023 Session Laws, relating to confidential and exempt records of the Bank of North Dakota, the rebuilders loan program, loan guarantees through the strategic investment and improvements fund,…
