Rep. Collette Brown

Maddy summarySB 2207 amends North Dakota law to explicitly include federally recognized tribal governments within state reservations in the exemption from motor vehicle excise tax. This change directly affects tribal governments operating vehicles on their reservations, ensuring vehicles owned or procured by them are exempt from the tax. The bill expands an existing exemption previously covering state/federal entities to specifically include tribal governments. It takes effect for taxable events after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2205 creates a dedicated "charitable gaming operating fund" in North Dakota's state treasury to manage all taxes, fines, and penalties collected from charitable gaming activities (like bingo or raffles run by nonprofits). The bill requires quarterly allocations: $75,000 to the gambling disorder prevention and treatment fund, and 5% of total funds to cities and counties based on taxes collected from local games (with a minimum $200 threshold for payments). It also mandates that any excess funds remaining after covering administrative costs be transferred to the state's general fund every odd-numbered year. This bill directly affects how charitable gaming revenue is distributed to state programs and local governments.

Maddy summaryHB 1526 requires pet food manufacturers and distributors to register products with North Dakota's commissioner before selling in the state. Manufacturers must pay $50 per product for in-state production or $120 per product for out-of-state production, with annual renewal fees of $100 per product. The law exempts small-scale producers who make non-commercial pet food at home, sell directly at farmers' markets, or avoid meat, poultry, fish, or their byproducts. Violations incur a $25 penalty per unregistered product. This applies to all standard and specialty pet food products distributed in North Dakota.

Maddy summaryHB 1563 is a procedural bill that establishes a legislative study on tribal land taxation in North Dakota. It directs the state's legislative management to analyze issues related to taxing land owned by enrolled tribal members living within tribal reservations, including federal law, court decisions, state property tax exemptions for Native Americans, and tribal sovereignty conflicts. The study, to be completed during the 2025-26 interim, will examine how state and tribal tax authority interact and report findings with policy recommendations to the 70th Legislative Assembly. This bill does not change current tax laws but creates a formal process to review existing policies affecting tribal members and reservations.

Maddy summaryHB 1252 creates a dedicated tribal health care coordination fund in North Dakota's state treasury, providing ongoing state funding to tribal governments for public health services. Funds are distributed based on each tribe's federal care coordination funding, with strict requirements: tribes must use funds for core public health services (limiting capital construction to 50% until 2027, then 35%), submit annual reports, and undergo biennial independent audits. The state department of health withholds funds for missing reports or improper use, and can restore distributions once compliance is verified. This bill directly affects North Dakota's tribal nations by establishing formalized, accountable funding for health programs aligned with federal public health priorities.

Maddy summaryHCR 3023 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by the North Dakota legislature to affirm its commitment to maintaining essential state services like education, law enforcement, and public health regardless of federal funding changes. It urges state agencies to assess risks from federal funding shifts and seek solutions, while also calling for collaboration with tribal nations and advocacy with federal partners. The resolution does not create new funding or alter existing laws - it is a non-binding statement of legislative intent. It was introduced in January 2025, advanced through committee, but ultimately failed to pass on February 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1611 requires North Dakota's legislative management to conduct a study during the 2025-26 interim on environmental and public health risks from oil and chemical spills on state highways within the Fort Berthold Reservation. The study must include input from the Three Affiliated Tribes, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Health and Human Services. It mandates that the legislative management report findings, recommendations, and any needed legislation to the next legislative assembly. The bill directly affects tribal communities and state agencies managing highway safety and environmental risks on reservation lands. (Note: The bill failed to pass in February 2025, but the summary describes its intended purpose.)

Maddy summaryHB 1536 allocates $1.5 million to North Dakota's Department of Public Instruction to develop and implement a K-12 Native American history curriculum across all public schools. The funding is divided: $600,000 for curriculum development with tribal collaboration, $300,000 for teacher training, $500,000 for educational materials, and $100,000 for oversight. It requires a tribal advisory committee and mandates equitable resource distribution, especially for rural and underfunded schools. The bill also requires a 2026 progress report to the legislature on implementation and effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHB 1553 requires all North Dakota public and nonpublic schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student, eliminating meal debt restrictions that previously barred students with unpaid balances from meals or activities. It prohibits schools from stigmatizing students based on meal payment status (e.g., using tokens or public lists) or denying participation in school activities due to meal debt. The bill appropriates $140 million from the legacy earnings fund to the Department of Public Instruction for school meal grants, covering the 2025-2027 biennium. This policy directly affects all K-12 students and schools receiving state meal funding, ensuring universal access to meals without financial barriers.

Maddy summarySB 2343 prohibits beekeepers from placing hives within 0.5 miles of state or federal highways in North Dakota. It requires the agriculture commissioner to investigate complaints, direct beekeepers to remove hives within 48 hours if violations are confirmed, and confiscate equipment if not removed or if the beekeeper is unknown. Beekeepers would be responsible for all enforcement costs. The bill directly affects commercial and hobbyist beekeepers operating near highways.