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.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 2350 would amend North Dakota's open records law to keep public employees' performance and discipline records confidential for three years or until employment ends, whichever comes first. This change directly affects state and local government employees whose personnel files contain these records, making them exempt from public disclosure requests. The bill specifies that such records remain confidential unless part of an internal investigation (exempt for up to 180 days) or needed by law enforcement for hiring. It also clarifies that other personal information in personnel files, like medical details or home addresses, remains exempt under existing law.
Maddy summaryHCR 3021 is a proposed constitutional amendment to North Dakota's judicial system. It would remove civil and criminal immunity for judges, void judgments violating due process, state/federal law, or the U.S. or North Dakota constitutions, and require judicial vacancies (supreme court or district court) to be filled by a bipartisan committee's nominees rather than solely by the governor. This directly affects all state judges and the court system by changing how judges are appointed and held accountable. The amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 primary election, as it failed to pass the legislature (13 yeas, 80 nays) in February 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 1457 would create a new exemption allowing individuals to avoid required vaccines (for school, work, or licensing) if the vaccine doesn't meet specific safety and effectiveness standards. These standards require the FDA-approved vaccine to have undergone at least one year of safety testing against a placebo, with injury data publicly posted, a lower risk of serious harm than the disease itself, and manufacturer liability for deaths or injuries. The North Dakota Department of Health must publicize this exemption and prohibit state agencies from requiring conditions inconsistent with it. The bill failed to pass during its second reading in February 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 1605 would ban adding fluoride to public drinking water systems in North Dakota for fluoridation purposes, directly affecting municipal water providers and public health departments. The bill prohibits adding any fluoride compound (like sodium fluoride) to public water supplies but excludes naturally occurring fluoride or industrial uses. Violators face a $500 fine for first offenses and $1,000 for repeat violations, enforced by the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill was introduced in January 2025, passed committee, but failed to advance in the legislature on February 19, 2025 (40-53 vote).
Relating to the installation of smart meters; and to amend and reenact section 49‑04.1‑01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to unauthorized metering.
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 1493 is a procedural bill that seeks to repeal North Dakota's Section 54-60-31 of the Century Code, which established the "office of legal immigration." The bill does not create new policy but would eliminate the legal framework for this specific office. It was introduced in January 2025, referred to a committee, and ultimately failed to pass on February 18, 2025, with 22 votes in favor and 67 against. This repeal would directly affect the existence of the office of legal immigration, which was created under the repealed section.
Maddy summaryHB 1141 would prohibit North Dakota government employees and officials from using public property (such as vehicles, buildings, or equipment) or public services (like employee time during work hours) for political activities. It defines "political purpose" broadly to include campaign ads, candidate endorsements, or using terms like "vote for" near elections, while exempting bona fide news coverage or public office duties. Violations could result in personal liability for officials or complaints filed with the ethics commission, which may refer criminal cases to prosecutors. The bill aims to prevent misuse of public resources for political gain during election periods.
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.