ND SB2181

Amends the state health officer's disease control authority to prohibit orders that substantially burden religious exercise unless the order furthers a compelling governmental interest through the least restrictive means.

Prohibits the state health officer from treating religious conduct more restrictively than comparable secular conduct of reasonably comparable risk, unless clear and convincing scientific evidence shows the religious activity poses an extraordinary health risk.

Prohibits the state health officer from treating religious conduct more restrictively than comparable secular conduct based solely on alleged economic need or benefit.

Amends the governor's emergency powers to include identical religious liberty protections, preventing orders or proclamations from substantially burdening religious exercise or discriminating against religious conduct compared to secular conduct.

Allows individuals claiming violation of these religious liberty protections to assert them as claims or defenses in judicial proceedings and obtain relief including costs and reasonable attorney's fees; willful violation of governor's executive orders or proclamations is classified as an infraction.