Sen. Brad Bekkedahl

Relating to placing the name of a candidate on the primary election ballot; and to repeal sections 16.1‑11‑05.1, 16.1‑11‑09, and 16.1‑11‑36 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to party organization endorsements, certificates of endorsement, and the minimum vote required at a primary election for nomination.

Relating to a legacy earnings fund; to amend and reenact section 6‑09.4‑10.1, subsection 1 of section 21‑10‑06, and section 54‑27‑19.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to funds invested by the state investment board; to repeal sections 21‑10‑12 and 21‑10‑13 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to legacy fund definitions and a legacy earnings fund; to provide an effective date; and to declare an emergency.

Maddy summaryHB 1249 allocates one-time state funds for autonomous technology grants to four state agencies: $250,000 to the Attorney General for law enforcement tools (like drones for missing persons searches), $500,000 to Career and Technical Education for workforce training in oil/gas, $250,000 to Health and Human Services for rural emergency response, and $500,000 to the Agriculture Commissioner for farm technology. Each agency must establish application guidelines requiring grant recipients to certify their use of autonomous tech (e.g., drones, vehicles) aligns with the agency’s mission and provide a 1:4 matching fund ratio. Recipients must report grant usage to lawmakers during the 2025-2026 interim. The bill covers a two-year period starting July 2025, with all funding designated as one-time.

Relating to the state share of oil and gas tax revenue allocations, the municipal infrastructure fund, and the county and township infrastructure fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1576 requests a study by North Dakota's legislative management to examine how oil and gas tax revenues are distributed to local governments (like cities and counties). The study, to be completed during the 2025-26 interim, would analyze current and historical revenue allocations and assess whether distribution levels align with infrastructure needs tied to oil and gas development. It would require the legislative management to report findings and proposed legislation to the 2027 legislature. The bill does not change current revenue rules but aims to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryHCR 3022 is a non-binding resolution directing North Dakota's Legislative Management to study whether local governments (such as counties and cities) should invest public funds in stablecoins. The proposed study would examine security risks, financial oversight, stakeholder input, and practical considerations like cybersecurity and regulatory compliance. It does not authorize any investments but would gather data to inform future policy decisions. The resolution failed to pass in February 2025 after a vote of 15-75.

Maddy summaryHB 1242 would establish a legal presumption that shared parenting (joint decisionmaking on major issues like education and health, plus approximately equal time with each parent) serves children's best interests in custody cases. This presumption applies unless a court finds specific exceptions, such as evidence of child harm, domestic violence involving serious injury or weapons, or sexual abuse. The bill requires courts to document specific reasons when overriding this presumption and mandates supervised parenting time for abusive parents in domestic violence cases. It directly affects parents in custody disputes and North Dakota courts handling parental rights decisions.

Relating to the creation of a tobacco tax distribution behavioral health fund and the collection, transfer, and report of a tax on electronic smoking devices and alternative tobacco products; to amend and reenact sections 57‑36‑01, 57‑36‑25, 57‑36‑26, 57‑36‑31, and 57‑36‑32 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the tax imposed on cigarettes and other tobacco products; to provide a penalty; and to provide an effective date.

Relating to a legacy earnings fund; to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 21‑10‑06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to funds invested by the state investment board; to repeal sections 21‑10‑12 and 21‑10‑13 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to legacy fund definitions and a legacy earnings fund; to provide an effective date; and to declare an emergency.

Relating to a housing development loan fund; to provide an appropriation; to provide a continuing appropriation; to provide for a transfer; to provide an expiration date; and to declare an emergency.