Sen. Larry Luick

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 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 summarySB 2199 would create a new rule in North Dakota law allowing disabled veterans with a 100% service-connected disability (verified by the Department of Veterans' Affairs) to receive a deer hunting license automatically. The bill directly affects qualifying disabled veterans by removing them from the standard lottery system for deer licenses. Under this proposed change, these veterans would be entitled to a license without competing in the annual drawing, streamlining access to hunting opportunities. This is a specific policy change to license eligibility, not a broader hunting regulation.

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.

Relating to a requirement for public school students to have the opportunity to recite the pledge of allegiance each morning and immunity for liability stemming from the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.

Maddy summarySB 2367 standardizes how agricultural property taxes are calculated in North Dakota. It requires county tax directors to create and get state approval for specific "modifiers" that adjust property assessments, which assessors must use annually without property owner applications. These approved modifiers must be provided to all assessors by February 1st each year. The law applies directly to agricultural property owners and county assessors, changing how their tax assessments are determined starting for 2025 tax years.

Relating to a pilot program to provide grants to schools that provide instruction in a foreign language to students in kindergarten through grade three; and to provide an appropriation.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates North Dakota's rules for corporate farms and ranching LLCs by clarifying what constitutes farming/ranching, requiring all owners to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and mandating detailed annual reports. It directly affects corporate and LLC entities operating agricultural businesses in North Dakota, particularly those with non-U.S. ownership. Key provisions include defining farming activities (excluding certain services), setting citizenship requirements for all shareholders/members, and requiring disclosure of ownership percentages, citizenship status, and voting structures. The annual reports must detail each owner's citizenship, business involvement, and corporate structure.

Relating to motor vehicle fuel tax, special fuels tax, and aviation fuel tax refunds for fuels purchased by fire departments; and to provide an effective date.