Sen. Janne Myrdal

Relating to septic systems and the environmental quality advisory committee; to amend and reenact sections 23‑35‑02, 23‑35‑08, 23.1‑01‑03, and 23.1‑17‑01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the powers and duties of the department of environmental quality, boards of health, and public health units; to repeal sections 23‑35‑02.2 and 23‑35‑02.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the onsite wastewater recycling technical committee; to provide an appropriation; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1368 amends North Dakota Century Code section 28-32-18 to modify the administrative rules committee's authority to void agency rules. The bill directly affects the committee and state agencies that create administrative rules by changing the process for voiding those rules. It specifies new procedures for the committee's power to invalidate rules but does not alter the substantive content of agency regulations. This is a procedural change to administrative rule review processes.

Maddy summarySB 2157 mandates a legislative study to examine creating a farm safety insurance discount program. The study will determine if farmers and ranchers could receive insurance premium discounts after completing a safety course, including developing course requirements, discount amounts, and eligibility criteria. It requires input from the insurance commissioner, agriculture commissioner, North Dakota State University extension, and agricultural insurance agencies. The study, to be completed by the 2025-26 interim, will report findings and proposed legislation to the next legislative assembly. This bill does not create the program itself but sets the groundwork for potential future policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1213 establishes a new "Jail Improvement Revolving Loan Fund" administered by the Bank of North Dakota to provide low-interest loans for jail infrastructure projects. It directly affects counties and regional correctional authorities, enabling them to apply for loans (up to $40 million at 2% interest over 30 years) to renovate, expand, or replace aging jail facilities meeting specific cost and capacity criteria. The bill creates a committee to review applications based on factors like inmate occupancy, structure age, and community support, and mandates a $200 million transfer from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund to seed the new loan program for the 2025-2027 biennium. The fund operates as a revolving loan program, with principal and interest repayments replenishing the fund for future projects.

Maddy summaryHB 1131 allows North Dakota farms to sell raw milk directly to consumers for personal use but prohibits selling it to wholesalers, retail stores, or donating it. It specifically bans raw milk sales involving interstate commerce or mass distribution, restricting transactions to direct farm-to-consumer sales within the state. The bill exempts these direct sales from other dairy regulations in North Dakota law, including chapters covering dairy product standards and food safety. This law directly affects dairy farms seeking to sell raw milk products while clarifying legal boundaries for such transactions.

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 1522 allows North Dakota cities to permit golf carts on city streets through local ordinances, directly affecting city residents and golf cart owners. The law restricts operation to daytime travel between a resident's home and a golf course, prohibits use on federal/state/county highways (except perpendicular crossings), and exempts compliant golf carts from standard vehicle registration, title, and equipment requirements. This policy change gives cities flexibility to regulate low-speed vehicle use while maintaining safety standards on local roads.

Maddy summarySB 2242, now law after being signed by the Governor on March 20, 2025, directs North Dakota's legislative management to conduct a study of state higher education institutions during the 2025-26 legislative interim. The study will examine efficiency, dual-credit programs, tuition costs, uniform transcripts, credit transfers, and potential consolidation or satellite campuses. It does not change current policies but will produce recommendations for future legislation to address these areas. The study committee will include bipartisan legislative members and representatives from higher education, K-12, and key industries.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how North Dakota classifies petty theft of property worth $500 or less. For first offenses, it makes such theft a class B misdemeanor (a misdemeanor penalty) if committed through shoplifting or if specific conditions are met (e.g., no threat, deception in a fiduciary relationship, or the defendant not being a public servant or financial employee). Repeat offenses within specified timeframes escalate penalties: second/third offenses become class A misdemeanors, and fourth or subsequent offenses become class C felonies. Courts must also provide written notice to defendants about potential enhanced penalties for repeat offenses under this law.

Relating to the cost of digital forensic examinations and the establishment of an internet crime investigation fund; to provide a continuing appropriation; and to provide a penalty.