Sen. Kristin Roers

Relating to the enforcement process for the North Dakota ethics commission; and to repeal sections 54‑66‑06, 54‑66‑07, and 54‑66‑09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to complaints filed with the North Dakota ethics commission.

Maddy summarySB 2187 sets new daily reimbursement rates for state employees traveling within North Dakota, with tiered rates based on time of day (e.g., $9 for 6 a.m.-12 p.m., $22 for 6 p.m.-12 a.m.). It caps lodging expenses at 90% of U.S. General Services Administration rates and establishes monthly reimbursement limits for legislators tied to these daily rates. The bill directly affects state employees and legislative members who incur travel costs for work-related duties. These changes amend specific sections of North Dakota’s Century Code to standardize and limit reimbursement amounts for lodging and travel expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 1478, if enacted, would create new protections in North Dakota law for access to contraceptives. It defines contraceptives broadly (including pills, IUDs, condoms, and patches) while excluding abortion drugs, and guarantees individuals the right to receive, purchase, or use contraception under evidence-based medical guidelines. The bill also protects health care providers who decline to provide contraception based on religious or moral objections, and ensures health insurers cover contraceptive care. It allows lawsuits against state entities that restrict these rights, with penalties including court-ordered relief and attorney fees for successful plaintiffs.

Maddy summaryHB 1477 would create new legal protections for fertility care access in North Dakota. It guarantees individuals the right to receive fertility treatments and make decisions about reproductive genetic material, while also protecting health care providers, insurers, and manufacturers from state restrictions on these services. The bill prohibits state agencies or subdivisions from implementing policies that limit access to fertility treatments, except for health/safety regulations that follow established medical guidelines. Violations could trigger civil lawsuits by affected individuals or the attorney general, with courts able to block the restrictive policy and award legal fees to the winning party. This bill directly affects patients seeking fertility care, clinics providing those services, health insurers, and manufacturers of fertility-related products.

Maddy summaryHB 1100 allocates $6 million from North Dakota's general fund to reimburse school districts for unpaid meal debt (outstanding charges for free or reduced-price meals) incurred before June 30, 2025. It directly affects school districts with delinquent meal debt by allowing the state to cover these costs using funds that can roll over into the 2025-2027 budget cycle. The bill requires the state superintendent to distribute reimbursements based on each district's share of statewide unpaid debt, capped at the district's actual debt amount. A legislative management report must detail the funds used, total debt by district, and reimbursement amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 1349 proposes capping noneconomic damages (like pain and suffering) in North Dakota health care malpractice lawsuits at $500,000 initially, with scheduled annual increases to $1.5 million (2026), $2 million (2027), and $2.5 million (2028). It directly affects patients filing malpractice claims and healthcare providers facing such lawsuits, while exempting claims involving unborn fetuses. The bill requires courts to reduce jury awards to meet the cap without informing juries of the limit. The legislation failed to pass in the North Dakota legislature on February 7, 2025, with 30 votes in favor and 61 against.

Relating to the duties of occupational and professional boards and the receipt by the office of the governor of complaints following licensing decisions of occupational and professional boards; and to provide for a report.

Relating to the expiration of administrative rules and a review process administered by the governor; and to amend and reenact section 28‑32‑06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the force and effect of administrative rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 would have amended North Dakota law to require state surplus motor vehicles to be offered first to local governments (like cities and counties) for 14 days at 30% below fair market value, before being made available to other eligible state agencies or nonprofits. This change aimed to prioritize local governments for purchasing surplus state vehicles at a discounted rate. The bill applied specifically to motor vehicles designated as surplus property under state code. The legislation was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn in February 2025 without becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1380 requires North Dakota county commissioners to publish full meeting records in the county's official newspaper or on the county's official website within seven days after each meeting. This applies directly to all county boards of commissioners and their designated newspaper publishers. The bill updates Section 11-11-37 of the North Dakota Century Code to mandate this timeline and specifies that newspaper publishers must file an affidavit of publication with the county auditor. (Note: The bill failed to pass on January 27, 2025, but this summary describes its intended provisions only.)