Rep. Mike Brandenburg

Maddy summarySB 2161 amends North Dakota law governing the barley council and wheat commission, primarily adjusting assessment rates for producers. It increases the barley assessment to 20-30 mills per bushel (with exemption for barley used as livestock feed) and sets the wheat assessment at 15-20 mills per bushel for wheat grown, delivered, or sold in the state. The bill also updates membership rules for the councils, including term limits and procedures for filling vacancies. These changes directly affect barley and wheat producers who sell their crops within North Dakota, as they will pay the updated assessments. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on March 18, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2332 creates a new $25 million annual fund from state legacy earnings to support emergency services and public safety across North Dakota. The bill establishes an advisory board with representatives from fire, police, EMS, local governments, and tribal entities to award grants for specific priorities like recruiting personnel, modernizing response systems, expanding mental health crisis teams, and improving communications technology. These grants will directly assist local emergency services providers, rural fire districts, tribal governments, and communities seeking to enhance public safety coverage. The fund is funded through a dedicated annual transfer from the legacy earnings fund, with the Department of Emergency Services administering the grant program.

Maddy summaryHB 1311 directs North Dakota's legislative management to conduct a study during the 2025-26 interim on challenges facing volunteer emergency responders, including firefighters, disaster volunteers, and community emergency response teams. The study must identify recruitment and retention strategies and gather input from stakeholders like emergency medical services, law enforcement, and state agencies. It will produce findings and recommendations, including potential legislation, for the 70th legislative assembly. This is a procedural bill focused solely on research, not new policy.

Maddy summarySB 2135 amends North Dakota law to increase the biennial funding transfer to the firefighters' death benefits fund from $50,125 to $50,125 (correcting a typo in the bill text) and sets a $10,025 payment for survivors of firefighters who died while performing duties. The bill requires fire department chiefs or their designees to verify line-of-duty deaths before payments are made. It directly affects surviving family members of deceased firefighters and the state insurance commissioner who manages the fund. The changes became law after being signed by the governor on March 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 2153) clarifies the definition of "Project" in North Dakota law to specifically include water conveyance projects and related infrastructure works that are physically connected or jointly managed. It amends the Century Code to define "Project" as a single unit combining water conveyance systems or works listed under subsection 1011. The change is purely definitional, ensuring consistent terminology for water infrastructure projects across state law. It does not create new projects, alter funding, or directly affect specific communities or entities. This procedural update streamlines how such water systems are legally categorized.

Maddy summaryHB 1403 designates the third Friday in September each year as "Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Day" in North Dakota. The bill requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing this day to honor military personnel held captive or missing in action. It specifically clarifies that this designation does not mandate school or business closures, as it is a ceremonial observance, not a mandated holiday. The bill was signed into law by the governor on March 14, 2025.

Relating to motor vehicle fuel tax, special fuels tax, and aviation fuel tax refunds for fuels purchased by fire departments; and to provide an effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1212 designates a specific segment of North Dakota State Highway 18 - from its intersection with Highway 5 to the Canadian border - as the "PFC. Henry Gurke Memorial Highway." The bill requires the state Department of Transportation to install signs along this route bearing the memorial name and allows acceptance of donated funds for sign placement. This is a purely ceremonial bill with no substantive policy changes, affecting only the highway signage in that corridor.

Maddy summaryHB 1093 amends North Dakota's commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations under Section 39-06.2-06 of the Century Code and declares an emergency. The bill's official abstract does not specify the exact changes to CDL requirements, so the precise policy modifications or who is directly affected cannot be determined from the provided context. It was enacted on March 17, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and receiving the Governor's signature. Without further details on the amendments, the summary cannot describe specific mechanisms or provisions.

Relating to term limits for the governor, lieutenant governor, statewide elected officials, and members of the legislative assembly and prior years of service for members of the legislative assembly and statewide elected officers; to repeal sections 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of article XV of the Constitution of North Dakota, relating to cumulative term limits for members of the legislative assembly and the office of governor, and legislative authority, and initiative petition processes; and to provide an effective date.