Rep. Pat Heinert

Maddy summaryHB 1328 amends North Dakota law to change how schools and law enforcement refer students for minor offenses to juvenile court. It requires schools to first try disciplinary measures (like counseling or suspensions) before referring students for non-serious offenses on school property, unless the offense involves drugs, violence, sex crimes, or weapons. The bill also updates the definition of "custodian" to include school staff with legal responsibility for a child. These changes directly affect school officials, law enforcement, and students in North Dakota schools.

Relating to a requirement for public school students to have the opportunity to recite the pledge of allegiance each morning and immunity for liability stemming from the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.

Maddy summarySB 2277 designates North Dakota State Highway 200 (from the Minnesota to Montana borders) as the "North Dakota Fallen Peace Officers Memorial Highway," requiring the state transportation department to install signs along the route. It allows families and associates of officers killed in the line of duty to request individual memorial markers on up to one mile of the highway. The bill also establishes a continuing appropriation to accept and use donated funds for sign placement, ensuring ongoing maintenance of the memorial. This affects the public by creating a permanent memorial site and directly involves families of fallen peace officers, law enforcement officers, and canine officers.

Maddy summaryHCR 3009 is a North Dakota legislative resolution urging the federal government to adopt trade policies that penalize countries with high pollution levels (like China and Russia) while supporting U.S. businesses and workers. It specifically calls for holding foreign producers to environmental standards comparable to U.S. domestic rules, aiming to reduce reliance on imports from high-emission countries and boost domestic manufacturing. The resolution directly affects U.S. industries and workers by advocating for trade rules that address environmental and economic concerns raised by North Dakota, including mineral supply chain vulnerabilities. It does not create new laws but formally requests federal action, with North Dakota’s legislature directing copies to U.S. leaders and its congressional delegation. The resolution focuses on policy changes to align trade with environmental accountability, without specifying exact mechanisms like tariffs.

Maddy summaryHCR 3007 is a North Dakota legislative resolution urging Congress to recognize U.S. military personnel who served in Honduras between 1981 and 1992. It specifically requests Congress issue an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (or similar recognition) for service in a hostile area during that period. The resolution directly affects veterans who served in Honduras during the 1980s and early 1990s, acknowledging their deployment in a region involving combat support and casualties. The resolution will be forwarded to congressional leaders and North Dakota's congressional delegation as a formal request for federal recognition.

Maddy summaryHCR 3016 is a non-binding resolution passed by North Dakota's legislature urging state and federal officials to maintain policies supporting carbon capture technology and CO₂ utilization for enhanced oil recovery. It highlights that CO₂ from energy and agriculture facilities can unlock additional oil production in the Bakken Formation - potentially adding billions of barrels - and supports North Dakota's oil industry (which contributes $8 million daily in tax revenue) and coal sector (12,000 jobs). The resolution specifically asks the federal government to incentivize CO₂ use in oil recovery and partner with North Dakota to advance these technologies. It does not create new laws but encourages existing policy continuity to boost energy security and economic benefits.

Maddy summaryNorth Dakota's legislature passed HCR 3015, a concurrent resolution urging grid operators Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to fix market rules causing reliable power plants to retire faster than replacements are built. The resolution argues current pricing fails to value steady, dispatchable energy sources needed for grid reliability, especially as weather-dependent generation grows and retirement rates accelerate. It specifically asks SPP and MISO to reform how they pay for power to ensure resources that maintain grid stability during peak demand or extreme weather remain economically viable. This resolution directly affects North Dakota residents and businesses dependent on consistent electricity service, as SPP and MISO manage the regional grid serving the state.

Maddy summaryThe provided context does not include sufficient details about HB 1096's specific provisions or policy changes. The bill's title and abstract only reference "assessed communication service fees" without explaining what the amendment entails, who it affects, or how it changes existing law. Without additional information on the fee structure, affected entities (e.g., telecom providers or consumers), or the nature of the amendment, a substantive summary cannot be created. The bill has been enacted (signed by the Governor on March 17, 2025), but its concrete policy impact remains unspecified in the given context.

Maddy summaryHB 1290 amends North Dakota's gaming commission rules to prohibit requiring electronic pull tab games to close at the end of a quarter. Instead, it allows the commission to mandate quarterly reports for these games. The bill directly affects state gaming regulators and businesses operating electronic pull tab systems. Key provisions prevent mandatory game closures while maintaining reporting requirements to ensure transparency and compliance. This change modifies existing rules under North Dakota Century Code section 53-06.1-01.1, subsection 4.

Maddy summaryHB 1449 would require North Dakota school districts to provide one full-time school counselor for every 300 students in grades 7-12 (already in effect) and expand this to include grades K-6 starting in the 2022-23 school year. The bill allows up to one-third of the required counselor positions to be filled by certified career advisors, defined as individuals with specific credentials from the Department of Career and Technical Education. School districts would need to document recruitment efforts, explore alternatives like shared services or virtual counseling if positions aren't filled, and provide this documentation upon request. The bill directly affects all public school districts in North Dakota and their students in grades K-12.