Rep. Jim Kasper

Relating to state education funding for all students in the state; to amend and reenact sections 15.1‑27‑02 and 57‑15‑01.1, subsection 1 of section 57‑15‑14, section 57‑15‑14.2, and subdivision c of subsection 1 of section 57‑20‑07.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to required reports, school district levy authority, and information displayed on property tax statements; to repeal sections 15.1‑27‑04.1, 15.1‑27‑04.2, 15.1‑27‑04.3, 15.1‑27‑15.1, 15.1‑27‑20.2, and 15.1‑29‑15 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to adjustments to state aid payments and a property tax levy for tuition payments; and to provide an effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1273 would prohibit North Dakota cities, counties, and the state from adopting policies, orders, or ordinances that restrict individual speech - including those related to hate crimes. The bill states that any such local policy would be invalid and cannot be overridden by city or county home rule charters. It directly affects municipal governments and local regulations by blocking restrictions on speech at the community level. The law would take effect if passed, making speech-limiting local rules unenforceable.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 would have amended North Dakota law to require state surplus motor vehicles to be offered first to local governments (like cities and counties) for 14 days at 30% below fair market value, before being made available to other eligible state agencies or nonprofits. This change aimed to prioritize local governments for purchasing surplus state vehicles at a discounted rate. The bill applied specifically to motor vehicles designated as surplus property under state code. The legislation was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn in February 2025 without becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1288 would create a process for anyone to request a review of whether a North Dakota public school district follows state education laws. It requires school districts to post a standard form online for submitting such requests, which the state Attorney General would then review and determine compliance. If a district is found noncompliant, the Attorney General would notify them and provide steps to fix the issue, with findings serving as evidence in related legal cases. The bill directly affects public school districts and individuals concerned about school adherence to state education statutes.

Relating to evaluation of economic development tax incentives and the use tax exemption for raw materials, single‑use product contact systems, and reagents used for biologic manufacturing; to repeal section 57‑39.2‑04.19 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the sales tax exemption for raw materials, single‑use product contact systems, and reagents used for biologic manufacturing; and to provide an effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1315 prohibits the North Dakota National Guard from being deployed into active combat missions unless Congress has officially declared war or taken specific constitutional action under Article I, Section 8. It defines "active duty combat" as participating in armed conflict, hazardous foreign service, or duties involving instruments of war. The bill requires the governor to ensure compliance, but does not restrict domestic deployments under Title 32 of U.S. Code for missions like civil authority support within the U.S. The legislation was introduced as an emergency measure in January 2025 but failed to pass in committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1406 would require state agencies and the judiciary to wait until after the first legislative filing deadline to submit bills to the North Dakota legislature. Specifically, it mandates that executive branch agencies and the judicial branch cannot introduce bills before the deadline set for legislators to file their own proposals, with the legislative council notifying them of this December deadline each even-numbered year. This bill directly affects state agencies and courts by changing the timing for when they can propose new legislation. It is a procedural rule change with no direct impact on citizens or policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 1243 would require insurers to let vehicle owners choose whether to keep their car after it’s deemed a total loss (where repair costs exceed value) or let the insurer take it. The bill also prohibits insurers from charging owners extra fees to return the vehicle following a total loss determination. This directly affects North Dakota drivers with insurance policies covering physical damage who experience a total-loss accident. The bill aims to simplify ownership options and eliminate unexpected costs for policyholders in these situations.

Maddy summaryHB 1320 would prohibit creating or distributing AI-altered videos or images that falsely depict someone without their consent, with the intent to deceive. This applies to anyone sharing such "deepfake" content, including on social media or other platforms. Violations would be classified as a class A misdemeanor, potentially resulting in fines or jail time. The law specifically targets deceptive digital content meant to harm reputations or spread misinformation.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow North Dakota legislators to attend out-of-state educational events without violating gift prohibitions, provided the events are objectively educational and not designed to influence legislation. It requires legislators to have a good-faith belief the event is educational (based on materials provided) and to leave immediately if they encounter unexpected lobbying efforts at the event. The exception specifically applies to events focused on education, not to activities intended to lobby. This change modifies existing ethics rules to clarify when travel-related expenses for educational purposes would not count as prohibited gifts.