Sen. Janne Myrdal

Relating to prohibiting a political subdivision from seizing personal property without notice; to amend and reenact section 12.1‑23‑02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to theft of property; and to provide a penalty.

Maddy summarySB 2215 would require executive branch agencies and the judicial branch in North Dakota to obtain a specific request from legislative leadership before introducing a bill. The bill would prevent these branches from submitting proposed legislation directly to the legislature without such a prior request. This change would affect how state agencies and courts propose new laws, shifting the process to require legislative approval before drafting. The bill failed to pass in the legislature during its 2025 session, with 19 votes in favor and 28 against. It is a procedural rule change, not a substantive policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1569 requires North Dakota public school districts to provide sex trafficking awareness and prevention instruction to all students at least once before graduating high school, starting in the 2027-28 school year. The bill mandates that curriculum must cover victim demographics, accurate definitions of trafficking, reporting systems, risk identification, and recognizing grooming signs, while including medically and legally accurate information. School districts must use curriculum approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the instruction may be integrated into existing courses starting in grade seven. The bill directly affects all K-12 students and school districts in North Dakota through mandatory curriculum implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1399 amends North Dakota law to set witness compensation at $25 per day for civil or criminal court appearances (excluding municipal court) and requires mileage reimbursement at the same rate paid to state employees. It limits criminal case witness expenses to $30,000 per county every two years, with the attorney general covering prosecution witnesses and the legal aid commission covering indigent defense witnesses. Prisoners cannot be paid as witnesses under this bill. The law also allows counties exceeding the funding cap to share unused funds with other counties, subject to attorney general approval.

Maddy summaryHB 1301 would require North Dakota courts to explicitly prohibit probationers from possessing firearms, destructive devices, or dangerous weapons as a standard condition of probation, except for specific first-time misdemeanor offenses under certain sections (like minor traffic violations or low-level drug offenses) if the court makes a documented finding of "good cause" to waive the ban. It also adds new probation conditions like community service, electronic monitoring, and strict rules against failing urine tests, while prohibiting firearm bans for most other misdemeanors. The bill applies to all probation sentences imposed after its effective date. This would directly affect individuals on probation for most crimes, limiting their access to firearms unless specific legal exceptions apply.

Relating to the powers of a board of county commissioners, a board of city commissioners, and a city council regarding development by a foreign country of concern or foreign organization of concern, prohibiting ownership of real property by a foreign country of concern or a foreign organization of concern, and required filings for foreign persons investing in agricultural lands; to repeal section 47‑10.1‑05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to required filings for foreign persons investing in agricultural lands; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide a penalty; to provide a contingent effective date; and to provide an expiration date.

Relating to historic horse race wagering, pari-mutuel horse racing, and the establishment of the racing commission fund; to amend and reenact sections 53‑06.2‑01, 53‑06.2‑04, 53‑06.2‑05, 53‑06.2‑06, 53‑06.2‑07, 53‑06.2‑08, 53‑06.2‑10, 53‑06.2‑10.1, and 53‑06.2‑11 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the authorization of historic horse race wagering and the elimination of simulcast dog racing under the certificate system; and to provide an effective date.

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.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 4010) urges the NCAA to revoke its policy allowing transgender student-athletes to compete on women's sports teams. It argues the policy discriminates against biological females in collegiate women's sports and conflicts with Title IX's requirement to protect sex-based athletic opportunities. The resolution specifically calls for the NCAA to enforce a policy restricting women's sports to athletes whose biological sex is female, requiring member institutions to comply. It was introduced in North Dakota's legislature but withdrawn before further action.

Maddy summaryHB 1548 allocates $10 million in one-time state funding to the Department of Health and Human Services for a fitness center grant at the Life Skills and Transition Center. The bill specifically provides funds to construct a fitness center that will directly benefit residents of this facility. The grant is intended for the 2025-2027 biennium and comes from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund. This is a funding measure focused on physical health infrastructure for a specific state-run residential program.