Labor & Employment

failed · North Dakota · House Jan 23, 2025

HB 1060: A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 65-01-15, 65-01-15.1, and 65-01-15.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the presumption of compensability for correctional officers.

HB 1060 would amend North Dakota Century Code sections 65-01-15, 65-01-15.1, and 65-01-15.2 to automatically provide workers' compensation coverage for work-related injuries sustained by correctional officers. If passed, it would eliminate the need for these officers to prove their injuries were job-related to receive benefits. The bill directly affects correctional officers working in North Dakota state facilities. This change would simplify the compensation process for affected officers under the existing workers' compensation system.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAutomates workers' comp for correctional officers, removing proof burden to ensure timely benefits. Directly expands worker benefits under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

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signed · North Dakota · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1023: AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the public employees retirement system.

HB 1023 provides $10,898,654 in state funding for North Dakota's public employees' retirement system for the 2025-2027 biennium. The appropriation covers salaries, operating expenses, and contingencies to cover the system's ongoing operational costs. This bill directly affects the retirement system's ability to pay benefits and manage its finances, supporting state public employees who rely on this system. It is a routine funding measure with no new policy changes, solely allocating existing state funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $10.8M for public employees' retirement system operations, directly funding an essential government program without policy changes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds public employees' retirement system, ensuring continued benefit payments and financial stability for workers without policy changes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions

signed · North Dakota · House Jun 11, 2025

HB 1524: AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-60 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to regional planning council grants from the department of commerce.

HB 1524 creates a formal grant program allowing North Dakota's Department of Commerce to fund regional planning councils. The bill directs the department to award grants supporting local implementation of state programs like housing, workforce development, rural economic initiatives, and local food systems, subject to annual legislative funding. These grants can cover program execution, resource development, and efforts to attract public or private investment in communities. The law, signed by the governor in May 2025, directly affects regional planning councils and the local communities they serve.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates grant program funding housing initiatives via regional planning councils under state housing programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds workforce development programs through grants, directly supporting employment standards and local economic initiatives as specified in the summary.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development Workforce Development

failed · North Dakota · Senate Feb 7, 2025

SB 2345: A BILL for an Act to provide for state employee compensation adjustments.

SB 2345 would have provided permanent North Dakota state employees with a 4% pay raise each year during the 2025-27 biennium, effective July 2025 (paid August 2025) and July 2026 (paid August 2026). The bill directly affected all eligible permanent state employees by adjusting their base compensation annually. It required no new funding mechanisms beyond existing appropriations, as the increases were tied to the biennial budget cycle. The bill failed to pass the legislature on February 7, 2025, with 6 votes in favor and 41 against.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides annual 4% pay raise for state employees, directly increasing compensation and supporting worker benefits within Labor & Employment framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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signed · North Dakota · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1021: AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of workforce safety and insurance.

HB 1021 allocates $65,954,976 in state funds from the workforce safety and insurance fund to cover the operating expenses of North Dakota's workforce safety and insurance programs for the 2025-2027 biennium. The funding supports program operations and maintains 260.14 full-time equivalent positions dedicated to these services. This bill directly affects the state's workforce safety and insurance programs by ensuring they have dedicated funding for their ongoing operations during the specified two-year period.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $65.9M in state funds to maintain workforce safety program operations and 260 positions, directly funding a public service program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates $65.9M to fund workforce safety program operations and maintain 260 FTE positions, directly supporting workplace safety services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

failed · North Dakota · Senate Feb 17, 2025

SB 2131: A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 52-08 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to workforce training center funding distribution.

SB 2131 would change how North Dakota distributes state funds to workforce training centers. It requires the state board to allocate 60% of funding equally among all centers, 20% based on each center's average annual training hours over the prior three years, and 20% based on each center's average number of unique participants over the same period. The bill directly affects all designated workforce training centers in the state by altering their funding formula. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed to pass the legislature on February 17, 2025, with 16 votes in favor and 29 against.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill restructures funding for workforce training centers (60% equal allocation), directly supporting worker skills development and employment opportunities through sustained state funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

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signed · North Dakota · Senate Mar 20, 2025

SB 2227: AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 54-52-05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to employee participation in the public employees retirement system; to provide for retroactive application; and to declare an emergency.

SB 2227 amends North Dakota's public employees retirement system to require most new state and local government employees to enroll in the retirement plan within their first month of employment, unless they formally waive participation in writing for past service. It also allows retired employees who return to work (with a different employer or in specific unclassified state positions) to permanently opt out of future contributions and retirement plan participation. The law applies retroactively to December 14, 2024, and is declared an emergency measure. This change directly affects public employees, retirees returning to work, and participating government employers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates retirement enrollment for new public employees, expanding retirement benefits coverage without requiring opt-in waivers for most new hires.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

signed · North Dakota · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 1177: AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 3 of section 54-52-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the definition of correctional officer for purposes of the public employees retirement system.

HB 1177 amends North Dakota's public employees retirement system definition to include correctional officers who are enrolled in, but have not yet completed, a state-approved training course. This change directly affects correctional facility workers in North Dakota who are currently in training for their roles. The key provision expands eligibility for retirement benefits to these trainees by adding them to the official definition of "correctional officer" under the retirement system code. The bill does not change benefit amounts or eligibility for already certified officers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands retirement benefits eligibility for correctional officer trainees, strengthening worker benefits under public employees retirement system95% confidence

failed · North Dakota · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 1285: A BILL for an Act to provide for state employee compensation adjustments and to provide for an appropriation and transfer to the teachers' fund for retirement for cost-of-living adjustments.

HB 1285 adjusts compensation for North Dakota's permanent state employees, setting average 3% raises in 2025-26 and 2% in 2026-27, based on performance (excluding probationary staff and underperformers). It redirects $49.2 million - half the cost of prior higher raises - to the teachers' retirement fund for a one-time supplemental payment to eligible retirees. The bill requires state agencies to follow specific guidelines for implementing these raises and mandates the transfer to the teachers' fund during the 2025-27 biennium. It directly affects eligible state employees receiving raises and retirees receiving the supplemental payment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects $49.2M from employee raises to fund teachers' retirement with one-time payment, directly advancing fiscal support for public education programs.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides performance-based raises (3%/2%) for state employees and redirects funds to teachers' retirement fund for supplemental payments, advancing compensation and retirement benefits for state workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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passed both · North Dakota · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 1393: A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 13 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to earned wage access providers; and to provide a penalty.

HB 1393 would have created new licensing requirements for businesses offering "earned wage access" services in North Dakota - allowing workers to access part of their earned but unpaid wages before their regular payday. The bill would have required providers (excluding banks, payroll services, and employers offering early pay directly) to obtain a license from the Financial Institutions Commissioner, maintain $25,000 net worth, post a $50,000 bond, and pass background checks for fraud convictions. Key provisions defined terms like "earned income access transaction" and set rules for fees, consumer notices, and prohibited practices. This bill would have directly affected non-exempt companies seeking to offer early wage access, not workers or employers. (Note: The bill failed to pass in April 2025.)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRegulates earned wage access providers with licensing and financial safeguards, protecting workers from predatory practices and enabling earlier access to earned wages.90% confidence

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