Sen. Tim Mathern

Relating to providing breakfast and lunch to all students of participating entities, including school districts, nonpublic schools, and tribal schools, at no cost to the student.

Maddy summarySCR 4009 is a North Dakota legislative resolution urging Congress to support admitting Washington, D.C., as a state. It directly affects the approximately 700,000 residents of D.C. who currently lack voting representation in Congress and full self-governance despite paying federal taxes and serving in the military. The resolution calls on Congress to enact legislation granting D.C. statehood, aligning with previous D.C. voter approvals for statehood and the District's Home Rule Act framework. It does not create new policy but formally advocates for congressional action on D.C. statehood.

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 1606 amends North Dakota's state employee sick leave policy to set a minimum of ten hours (one working day) and a maximum of one and one-half working days per month for sick leave, based on an employee's tenure. It also requires that employees with at least ten years of continuous state service receive a lump sum payment equal to one-tenth of their final salary for unused sick leave. The bill mandates that state agencies develop and submit their own sick leave policies to the Office of Management and Budget for approval, ensuring consistency across departments.

Maddy summaryHB 1337 would provide $10 million in state funds to counties for mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for people in jail. The bill requires counties receiving grants to report annually on how funds were used and outcomes, and the health department to submit a summary report to lawmakers by 2026. This funding would cover the 2025-2027 biennium and aim to expand access to mental health care for incarcerated individuals.

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 a valuation reduction for property used as a primary residence; to amend and reenact subdivision b of subsection 4 of section 15.1‑27‑04.1, subsection 26 of section 57‑02‑08, sections 57‑02‑08.1, 57‑02‑08.3, 57‑02‑08.9, 57‑02‑08.10, and 57‑02‑11.1, subsection 1 of section 57‑23‑06, and section 57‑55‑10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the determination of state school aid, removal of the homestead credit, homestead renter refund, and the primary residence credit; to repeal sections 57‑02‑08.2 and 57‑02‑08.8 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the homestead credit certification and disabled veterans' credit; to provide for retroactive application; to provide an effective date; and to provide an expiration date.

Relating to establishing a grant program for the education of nonbeneficiary students attending tribally controlled schools; and to amend and reenact section 54‑40.2‑02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to authorization for public agencies and tribes to enter an agreement.

Relating to move‑in and post move‑out inspections of leased property; and to amend and reenact section 47‑16‑07.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to tenant security deposits.

Maddy summarySB 2316 proposed creating four regional service areas in North Dakota to provide long-term care for patients requiring ventilator support or psychiatric services. The bill would have required the state department to contract with providers in each region or pay for out-of-state care if local providers weren't available, while allowing collaboration with neighboring states. Facilities serving these patients could receive additional funding if they documented prior out-of-state care for the same patients. The bill specifically targeted patients with complex medical or psychiatric needs requiring ongoing specialized care. It failed to pass in the North Dakota legislature in February 2025.