Sen. Mark Weber

Maddy summarySB 2179 would require licensed motor vehicle fuel and special fuels dealers in North Dakota to pay an inspection fee of one-fortieth of one cent per gallon on gasoline, kerosene, tractor fuel, heating oil, and diesel sold within the state. Dealers must submit this fee monthly with their sales reports to the tax commissioner by the 25th of each month. The collected funds would be sent to the Department of Environmental Quality to support its fuel inspection program, as specified in the bill's provisions. This bill aimed to update the fee structure for the state's fuel inspection program under North Dakota Century Code section 23.1-13-16.

Maddy summaryHB 1385 sets specific deadlines for processing water resource permits in North Dakota. It requires the Department of Water Resources to make a final decision on permit applications (for dams, dikes, or drainage projects) within 120 days, and if they miss this deadline, the permit is automatically approved. For appeals of local board decisions, the department must decide within 120 days, and failure to act results in the appeal being denied. This affects developers, landowners, and water management entities seeking permits for projects requiring state approval under North Dakota's water resource laws.

Maddy summarySB 2284 would amend North Dakota adoption laws to improve access to birth records for adopted individuals and their biological relatives. It allows adopted adults aged 18+ to request identifying information about their biological parents or siblings, and permits biological parents (once the adopted person turns 21) or biological siblings to request information about the adopted person. Agencies must make reasonable efforts to notify relevant parties and handle requests within 90 days, requiring consent before disclosing identifying information. Nonidentifying information, such as medical history, would also be available to adoptive parents, adopted adults, and birth parents upon written request and payment of a reasonable fee.

Maddy summaryThis bill would limit annual maintenance fees for drainage systems to $4 per acre on farmland, with two calculation methods: either based on historical benefit levels or uniform assessment across all farmland. Non-farm property would be charged up to $2 for every $500 in taxable value. It also allows drainage districts to accumulate funds over six years if annual fees don’t cover repair costs, and requires landowner approval via recorded vote for costs exceeding that six-year limit. The bill directly affects agricultural and non-agricultural landowners in North Dakota drainage districts.

Maddy summarySB 2197 would have allowed crossbow use during deer hunting seasons under specific license conditions in North Dakota. It would permit hunters with a deer gun license to use crossbows during deer gun season, and hunters over 75 with a deer bow license to use crossbows during deer bow season. The bill aimed to expand hunting options by aligning crossbow use with existing license types. The bill failed to pass in the legislature on January 27, 2025, with 15 votes in favor and 32 against.

Maddy summaryHB 1136 would amend a North Dakota law to change penalties for oilseed buyers who fail to submit required assessments to the oilseed council. It specifies that first purchasers (oilseed buyers) who miss deadlines would face a penalty of either $500 or 10% of the unpaid amount, whichever is larger, plus 6% annual interest. The bill directly affects commercial oilseed buyers required to pay assessments to the North Dakota Oilseed Council. This change replaces the previous penalty structure with a clearer, formula-based approach.

Maddy summaryHB 1187 creates a legal lien on fire insurance proceeds for debris removal after a total property loss. It directly affects property owners with fire insurance claims and local governments (cities or counties) in North Dakota. The bill requires insurers to notify owners and local auditors within 10 days of a total loss, allowing cities/counties to claim a lien equal to the greater of $5,000 or 10% of the policy’s real property coverage. The lien must be filed within 30 days and applies only to debris removal costs, not personal property or temporary housing payments. Local governments must release the lien once remediation is complete or insurance pays the claim.

Maddy summarySB 2162 would have amended North Dakota law to set a 35-mill assessment (equivalent to $0.035 per bushel) on wheat sold within the state. This fee would apply to wheat grown in North Dakota at sale, wheat delivered into the state at sale, and wheat sold through commercial channels to first purchasers in North Dakota, with the revenue collected by the wheat commission. The bill directly affects wheat producers, sellers, and buyers operating within North Dakota's agricultural market. However, the bill was withdrawn from consideration on January 13, 2025, before advancing further.

Relating to criminal history record checks; and to provide an appropriation.