Relating to the creation of a tobacco tax distribution behavioral health fund and the collection, transfer, and report of a tax on electronic smoking devices and alternative tobacco products; to amend and reenact sections 57‑36‑01, 57‑36‑25, 57‑36‑26, 57‑36‑31, and 57‑36‑32 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the tax imposed on cigarettes and other tobacco products; to provide a penalty; and to provide an effective date.
HB 1590 would create a pilot program allowing North Dakota parents to open student education services accounts for K-12 children. Parents could deposit up to $2,000 annually per child, with the Bank of North Dakota matching 50% of those deposits. Funds could cover authorized expenses like career courses, tutoring, mental health services, and approved educational materials, with unused funds rolling over yearly. The pilot, running 2025-2027 with $41.2 million in state funding, would close accounts if students leave the state or don't pursue higher education, requiring parent refunds for contributed amounts.
Relating to the statewide property tax levy of one mill for support of the state medical center at the University of North Dakota; and to provide an effective date.
HB 1353 would limit how much property taxes can increase annually for North Dakota taxing districts (like cities, counties, and school districts) without voter approval. It caps annual increases at either the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 3%, whichever is lower, with specific exceptions for new taxable property, changes in exemptions, or existing debt payments. Taxing districts could carry forward unused increases for up to three years but must seek voter approval (60%+ vote) for any increase exceeding the cap. The bill would apply to all taxing districts except for certain bonded debt payments, state medical center levies, and specific conservation district taxes.
Relating to the determination of state school aid, the primary residence credit, and removal of the homestead and disabled veterans' credit; to repeal sections 57‑02‑08.1, 57‑02‑08.2, and 57‑02‑08.8 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the homestead credit and disabled veterans' credit; to provide an effective date; and to declare an emergency.
HB 1236 amends North Dakota law to specify that hunting and fishing license fees and application fees can only fund state wildlife and fish department programs unrelated to chronic wasting disease (CWD). The bill restricts the use of these fees, ensuring they cannot support CWD management or research. It directly affects the North Dakota Game and Fish Department by altering how it allocates revenue from hunting and fishing permits. The change clarifies that existing fee revenue must be used for general department administration, not specific disease-related initiatives. The bill failed to pass in the legislature during the 2025 session.
HB 1102 appropriates $775,000 from North Dakota's general fund to the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation for cybercrime resources. The funding will hire two full-time cybercrime agents and cover related equipment costs for the 2025-2027 biennium, with $161,000 designated for one-time equipment purchases. This bill directly affects police departments in northeastern North Dakota cities with at least 50,000 residents, requiring the new agents to assist those departments specifically with cybercrime prevention and detection. The measure is purely a funding allocation, not a policy change, focused on staffing and resources for a defined geographic area.
HB 1502 would limit North Dakota's state general fund budget growth to a maximum of 3% per two-year budget cycle, unless a two-thirds vote of both legislative chambers approves a higher increase. The bill allows unused portions of the 3% allowance to be carried forward for up to three budget cycles to exceed the limit later. It directly affects the state budget process by imposing a spending cap on the legislature's annual budget decisions. This procedural bill, if enacted, would establish a new rule in the state code governing how much the state can spend from its general fund each biennium.
HB 1436 proposes to amend North Dakota's motor vehicle excise tax code by establishing age-based tax rates: 5% for vehicles under 11 years old, 3% for vehicles 11-25 years old, and 1% for vehicles over 25 years old. The tax applies to the purchase price of any motor vehicle acquired for use in North Dakota, whether bought inside or outside the state. The bill would have taken effect for taxable events occurring after June 30, 2025, but failed to pass the legislature in January 2025. This change would directly affect individuals purchasing new or used vehicles in North Dakota, altering the tax burden based on vehicle age.
