HB 1598 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to amend and reenact section 20.1-01-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to hunting big game or small game other than waterfowl or cranes with a motor-driven vehicle.

HB 1598 prohibits most hunters from using motor vehicles off established roads or trails while hunting big game or small game (excluding waterfowl and cranes), directly affecting non-landowner hunters without written permission from landowners or active farmers/ranchers. The law bans driving through cropland, timber, or other terrain to hunt, but allows vehicle use only to retrieve a killed animal after reducing it to possession. It also prohibits using vehicles to harass or flush game and permits parking on roadsides for safety. The bill takes effect after being signed by the governor in March 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Signed Mar 24, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

FIRST ENGROSSMENT → Enrollment · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends North Dakota's hunting regulations to clarify and strengthen restrictions on using motor vehicles for hunting big game and small game (excluding waterfowl and cranes). The changes primarily address the use of motor-driven vehicles on private land without landowner permission, ensuring hunters must generally stay on established roads or trails unless retrieving game they have already shot. The bill also clarifies that landowners and lessees who actively farm or ranch are exempt from these restrictions on their own property.

Scope change

The scope of the hunting restrictions was clarified to explicitly include both big game and small game (other than waterfowl and cranes) and to specify that landowners and active lessees are exempt from the motor vehicle restrictions on their own land.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that individuals other than landowners must have written permission to use motor vehicles on private land for hunting, with an exception for retrieving game that cannot be easily retrieved on foot.

Strengthened restrictions by explicitly prohibiting the use of motor vehicles to hunt upland game during the deer gun season on land other than established roads or trails.

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit exemption for landowners and lessees who actively farm or ranch from the motor vehicle hunting restrictions on their own property.

TECHNICAL

Corrected inconsistent terminology from 'person' to 'individual' throughout the text for clarity and consistency.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2025 · House Feb 12, 2025

How they voted

47–0

Passed

Total votes 47

Mar 11, 2025

D Democratic5

5 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican42

42 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 25, 2025

Introduced

Filed with Secretary Of State 03/24

legislature

Mar 24, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by Governor 03/21

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 47 nays 0

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 7 0 0

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee Hearing 10:30

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Energy and Natural Resources Committee

upper

Feb 12, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (85-2-5)

house

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Second reading, passed, yeas 87 nays 2

lower

Feb 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 13 0 0

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Hearing 02:30

lower

Jan 20, 2025

Introduced

Introduced, first reading, referred Energy and Natural Resources Committee

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors