Rep. Cindy Schreiber-Beck

Relating to the expiration of administrative rules and a review process administered by the governor; and to amend and reenact section 28‑32‑06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the force and effect of administrative rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill would limit annual maintenance fees for drainage systems to $4 per acre on farmland, with two calculation methods: either based on historical benefit levels or uniform assessment across all farmland. Non-farm property would be charged up to $2 for every $500 in taxable value. It also allows drainage districts to accumulate funds over six years if annual fees don’t cover repair costs, and requires landowner approval via recorded vote for costs exceeding that six-year limit. The bill directly affects agricultural and non-agricultural landowners in North Dakota drainage districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1358 proposes creating a new legal framework for public charter schools in North Dakota. It would require the state education official to develop application processes, review charter requests, set annual limits (12 schools for 2025-26, increasing to 15 later), and manage funding based on student enrollment. The bill mandates charter schools to follow state assessments, prohibits charging tuition or licensing to others, and requires community representation on school boards. It also specifies that charter schools would receive state per-student funding but not local tax revenue, and would be eligible for federal funding.

Relating to the consolidation of the board of hearing aid specialists and the board of examiners on audiology and speech-language pathology; and to repeal sections 43‑33‑15 and 43‑33‑17 related to the board of hearing aid specialists.

Maddy summarySB 2311 proposes to establish a bioscience innovation grant program in North Dakota, providing funding to small bioscience businesses (with less than $2.5 million in annual sales and at least two employees) for innovation and commercialization. The program would require grant recipients to match up to 50% of funding and prohibit use for capital improvements, academic programming, or workforce training. It aims to support job creation for state university graduates, foster new bioscience startups, and advance technologies in areas like crop genetics, biofuels, and livestock operations. The program would be administered through a collaborative committee involving state agencies, universities, and a bioscience association.

Relating to duties of the state auditor.

Relating to virtual instruction of students and open enrollment.

Relating to smaller subsurface water management systems; to provide a penalty; and to declare an emergency.

Relating to evaluation of economic development tax incentives and a sales and use tax exemption for raw materials, single‑use product contact systems, and reagents used for biologic manufacturing; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide an effective date; and to provide an expiration date.

Relating to intervention by the superintendent of public instruction for a chronically low‑performing school or school district; to provide a report; and to declare an emergency.