Sen. Greg Kessel

Relating to a legacy earnings fund; to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 21‑10‑06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to funds invested by the state investment board; to repeal sections 21‑10‑12 and 21‑10‑13 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to legacy fund definitions and a legacy earnings fund; to provide an effective date; and to declare an emergency.

Maddy summarySB 2331 establishes a working group to manage wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, directly affecting park operations, local tourism, and conservation efforts. The group must maintain the wild horse population above 200 through nonlethal methods (like birth control or relocation), promote horse-related tourism, and submit annual reports to lawmakers. It requires a $50,000 state appropriation for the 2025-2027 biennium to support these activities. The bill mandates quarterly meetings and collaboration with the National Park Service, focusing on concrete management and tourism strategies without specifying outcomes.

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.

Maddy summarySB 2246 appropriates $49,500 from the general fund to the North Dakota Legislative Council for a one-time study on regenerative grazing. The bill directs a consultant to research the feasibility of creating a regenerative grazing ranch (focused on soil health and carbon absorption) and study how regenerative grazing practices affect carbon levels, rangeland productivity, and ranching sustainability. Key provisions require gathering scientific data, connecting ranchers with stakeholders, and identifying funding sources for carbon management practices. The study would involve input from the agriculture commissioner, mineral resources department, and ranching/energy industry stakeholders, with findings to be reported to the next legislative assembly. This bill does not create the ranch but examines whether it would benefit North Dakota's ranching and energy sectors.

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 summarySB 2311 proposes to establish a bioscience innovation grant program in North Dakota, providing funding to small bioscience businesses (with less than $2.5 million in annual sales and at least two employees) for innovation and commercialization. The program would require grant recipients to match up to 50% of funding and prohibit use for capital improvements, academic programming, or workforce training. It aims to support job creation for state university graduates, foster new bioscience startups, and advance technologies in areas like crop genetics, biofuels, and livestock operations. The program would be administered through a collaborative committee involving state agencies, universities, and a bioscience association.

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 speeding violations, use of safety belts, and city fines and penalties; and to provide a penalty.

Relating to temporary alteration of the maximum speed limit; to amend and reenact sections 39‑08‑01.2 and 39‑08‑01.4 of the North Dakota Century Code, section 39‑10‑21.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, as amended by Senate Bill No. 2189, as approved by the sixty-eighth legislative assembly, and section 39‑21‑13 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the special punishment for causing injury or death while operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs or substances, driving while under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs or substances while being accompanied by a minor, entering a closed road, and a lamp or flag on a projecting load; to provide for a legislative management study; to provide for a legislative management report; and to provide a penalty.

Relating to well or pipeline construction liens and construction liens.