Rep. Andrew Marschall

Maddy summaryHB 1616 modifies North Dakota's voter list access rules to clarify who can obtain voter data and for what purposes. It allows candidates, political parties, and committees to access voter lists for election-related activities but prohibits selling or misusing the data. The bill also creates new protections by making "secured active" voter records exempt from disclosure and specifies that funds from producing voter lists must go into the secretary of state's general fund. These changes directly affect political campaigns, election officials, and voters whose data is managed through the central voter file.

Maddy summaryHB 1443 updates North Dakota's special registration for farm and forestry vehicles by clarifying definitions and revising fee structures. It defines "farm vehicles" as trucks/trailers under 105,500 lbs used exclusively for farm operations (not commercial business) and creates a separate "forestry vehicle" category for forestry-related work. The bill establishes a tiered fee schedule based on vehicle weight and years registered, with lower rates for qualifying vehicles compared to commercial rates. This directly affects North Dakota farmers and forestry business owners who register eligible heavy-duty vehicles for non-commercial farm or forestry use.

Maddy summaryHB 1301 would require North Dakota courts to explicitly prohibit probationers from possessing firearms, destructive devices, or dangerous weapons as a standard condition of probation, except for specific first-time misdemeanor offenses under certain sections (like minor traffic violations or low-level drug offenses) if the court makes a documented finding of "good cause" to waive the ban. It also adds new probation conditions like community service, electronic monitoring, and strict rules against failing urine tests, while prohibiting firearm bans for most other misdemeanors. The bill applies to all probation sentences imposed after its effective date. This would directly affect individuals on probation for most crimes, limiting their access to firearms unless specific legal exceptions apply.

Maddy summaryHCR 3026 is a symbolic resolution passed by the North Dakota legislature urging the U.S. Congress and President to pursue diplomatic talks for Greenland’s peaceful annexation as a U.S. territory. It cites Greenland’s strategic Arctic location, natural resources, and existing U.S.-Greenland cooperation (like Thule Air Base) as justification, though Greenland is currently an autonomous territory within Denmark. The resolution requests diplomatic engagement with Greenland and Denmark to explore voluntary integration while respecting Greenlandic rights. It failed to advance in the North Dakota Senate (36-54 vote against adoption) and has no legal effect, as it is a non-binding request for federal action.

Maddy summaryHB 1333 proposes requiring North Dakota public school districts to provide students with at least 30 minutes for lunch daily between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It also allows high school students to be excused from the class immediately following lunch if they obtain a counselor’s written verification and provide it to their teacher once per semester. The bill directly affects all North Dakota public school districts and their students, particularly high schoolers seeking flexibility in their schedules. If enacted, it would establish a concrete, mandatory lunch break duration standard across the state’s public schools. (Note: The bill failed to pass in February 2025.)

Maddy summaryHB 1273 would prohibit North Dakota cities, counties, and the state from adopting policies, orders, or ordinances that restrict individual speech - including those related to hate crimes. The bill states that any such local policy would be invalid and cannot be overridden by city or county home rule charters. It directly affects municipal governments and local regulations by blocking restrictions on speech at the community level. The law would take effect if passed, making speech-limiting local rules unenforceable.

Maddy summaryHB 1309 would require North Dakota state agencies to verify that companies they contract with do not boycott energy (including fossil fuels), mining, production agriculture, or firearms industries. Companies must confirm they aren’t refusing business with entities in these sectors to penalize them, as defined by the bill. This applies to for-profit businesses with 10+ employees and $100,000+ in value. Exceptions exist if services aren’t commercially available or if the contract conflicts with legal duties. The bill is pending, having failed committee review in January 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1288 would create a process for anyone to request a review of whether a North Dakota public school district follows state education laws. It requires school districts to post a standard form online for submitting such requests, which the state Attorney General would then review and determine compliance. If a district is found noncompliant, the Attorney General would notify them and provide steps to fix the issue, with findings serving as evidence in related legal cases. The bill directly affects public school districts and individuals concerned about school adherence to state education statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 1315 prohibits the North Dakota National Guard from being deployed into active combat missions unless Congress has officially declared war or taken specific constitutional action under Article I, Section 8. It defines "active duty combat" as participating in armed conflict, hazardous foreign service, or duties involving instruments of war. The bill requires the governor to ensure compliance, but does not restrict domestic deployments under Title 32 of U.S. Code for missions like civil authority support within the U.S. The legislation was introduced as an emergency measure in January 2025 but failed to pass in committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1243 would require insurers to let vehicle owners choose whether to keep their car after it’s deemed a total loss (where repair costs exceed value) or let the insurer take it. The bill also prohibits insurers from charging owners extra fees to return the vehicle following a total loss determination. This directly affects North Dakota drivers with insurance policies covering physical damage who experience a total-loss accident. The bill aims to simplify ownership options and eliminate unexpected costs for policyholders in these situations.