Rep. Ben Koppelman

Relating to possession of firearms or dangerous weapons at a publicly owned or operated building; and to amend and reenact section 62.1‑02‑05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to possession of firearms or dangerous weapons at a public gathering.

Maddy summaryHB 1350 amends North Dakota's definition of "dangerous weapon" to explicitly include items like switchblades, gravity knives, machetes, certain martial arts weapons (e.g., nunchaku), BB guns, and weapons expelling projectiles via air/gas. It also clarifies that the definition excludes business tools, defensive sprays (CS/CN agents), and non-projectile stun devices. The bill did not pass the legislature, failing with 39 votes in favor and 53 against on February 25, 2025. This change would directly affect individuals possessing these specific items, altering how they are classified under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 1296 would require individuals carrying concealed firearms (with a valid license) to show their physical license, a digital image of the license, or a valid driver's license/nondriver ID card to law enforcement upon request during any contact, including traffic stops. Violating this requirement would result in a $20 noncriminal fee, not criminal penalties. The bill directly affects concealed carry license holders in North Dakota by mandating immediate presentation of identification during officer interactions. It amends North Dakota Century Code section 62.1-04-04 to clarify these presentation obligations and penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 1609 would create an alternative path to take the North Dakota bar exam, allowing applicants without a law degree to qualify by completing 2,000 hours of supervised legal work under a licensed attorney or tribal advocate over five years, plus holding a four-year college degree. The program requires supervising attorneys to verify hours through written affidavits, and applicants could also qualify by serving as a state legislator for four or more years. This would directly affect aspiring lawyers seeking bar admission without traditional law school credentials. The bill, which failed to pass in February 2025, aims to expand access to legal licensure through practical experience.

Relating to a district endorsing caucus or convention; and to amend and reenact sections 16.1‑03‑11, 16.1‑03‑14, 16.1‑11‑01, 16.1‑12‑10, and 16.1‑13‑04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to state party conventions and endorsing caucuses or conventions for primary and general elections.

Maddy summaryHB 1409 defines "interest" in North Dakota court cases to include both legal and equitable claims, requiring courts to interpret it broadly. It specifies that an "interested party" in any civil or criminal case includes anyone whose property, rights, or benefits may be affected by a court decision. The bill establishes a clear standard for who can participate in legal proceedings based on their stake in the outcome. As a procedural definition bill, it does not create new policies or directly affect specific groups, but rather clarifies court eligibility standards. The bill failed to pass in the North Dakota legislature in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1276 clarifies that political organizations - including candidate committees, political action committees, and state political parties - may use net raffle proceeds for political purposes under North Dakota law. It amends a statute to explicitly state that "public-spirited use" includes political purposes for these organizations, removing ambiguity about fund usage. The bill specifies that such organizations must disclose their intended use of raffle income on permit applications, while other public-spirited groups remain restricted to non-political uses. This change directly affects political groups seeking to fund campaigns through raffles, aligning their permitted activities with existing definitions. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed to pass in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1513 amends North Dakota law to require municipalities to notify property owners when sidewalks need construction, repair, or rebuilding. It mandates that notices must specify the required work, its character, and give owners at least two years and six months to complete it at their own expense, with work needing approval from the street commissioner or city engineer. Notices must be delivered via certified mail, in-person, or posting on vacant land, and if owners fail to act, the municipality will complete the work and bill the owner through a sidewalk fund. This directly affects property owners whose lots benefit from sidewalk improvements.

Maddy summaryHB 1325 proposes to amend North Dakota's wildlife code by requiring the state wildlife director to publicly maintain and make available for four years all positive chronic wasting disease (CWD) test results. This includes specific documentation like microscopic slides of the prion and necropsy reports. The bill directly affects the state wildlife agency, which would be responsible for implementing this public record-keeping requirement. It does not change wildlife management practices but mandates transparency about CWD detections, which are critical for monitoring a fatal neurological disease affecting deer, elk, and moose. The bill failed to pass in the 2025 legislative session.

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.