Sen. Jose Castaneda

Relating to possession of firearms or dangerous weapons at a publicly owned or operated building; and to amend and reenact section 62.1‑02‑05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to possession of firearms or dangerous weapons at a public gathering.

Maddy summaryHB 1296 would require individuals carrying concealed firearms (with a valid license) to show their physical license, a digital image of the license, or a valid driver's license/nondriver ID card to law enforcement upon request during any contact, including traffic stops. Violating this requirement would result in a $20 noncriminal fee, not criminal penalties. The bill directly affects concealed carry license holders in North Dakota by mandating immediate presentation of identification during officer interactions. It amends North Dakota Century Code section 62.1-04-04 to clarify these presentation obligations and penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 1609 would create an alternative path to take the North Dakota bar exam, allowing applicants without a law degree to qualify by completing 2,000 hours of supervised legal work under a licensed attorney or tribal advocate over five years, plus holding a four-year college degree. The program requires supervising attorneys to verify hours through written affidavits, and applicants could also qualify by serving as a state legislator for four or more years. This would directly affect aspiring lawyers seeking bar admission without traditional law school credentials. The bill, which failed to pass in February 2025, aims to expand access to legal licensure through practical experience.

Maddy summaryHB 1409 defines "interest" in North Dakota court cases to include both legal and equitable claims, requiring courts to interpret it broadly. It specifies that an "interested party" in any civil or criminal case includes anyone whose property, rights, or benefits may be affected by a court decision. The bill establishes a clear standard for who can participate in legal proceedings based on their stake in the outcome. As a procedural definition bill, it does not create new policies or directly affect specific groups, but rather clarifies court eligibility standards. The bill failed to pass in the North Dakota legislature in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1276 clarifies that political organizations - including candidate committees, political action committees, and state political parties - may use net raffle proceeds for political purposes under North Dakota law. It amends a statute to explicitly state that "public-spirited use" includes political purposes for these organizations, removing ambiguity about fund usage. The bill specifies that such organizations must disclose their intended use of raffle income on permit applications, while other public-spirited groups remain restricted to non-political uses. This change directly affects political groups seeking to fund campaigns through raffles, aligning their permitted activities with existing definitions. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed to pass in February 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2350 would amend North Dakota's open records law to keep public employees' performance and discipline records confidential for three years or until employment ends, whichever comes first. This change directly affects state and local government employees whose personnel files contain these records, making them exempt from public disclosure requests. The bill specifies that such records remain confidential unless part of an internal investigation (exempt for up to 180 days) or needed by law enforcement for hiring. It also clarifies that other personal information in personnel files, like medical details or home addresses, remains exempt under existing law.

Maddy summarySB 2349 would require North Dakota executive agencies and the Supreme Court to submit proposed bills to the Legislative Council by November 1st each even-numbered year, rather than introducing them directly. The bill mandates that the Legislative Management review these drafts by November 20th to determine if they contain a "substantial policy change" (a significant alteration to existing law). If the Management does not deem a bill to involve such a change, it is considered formally introduced. This is a procedural bill focused on the legislative process, not policy content, and it failed to pass the Senate in February 2025 (17 yeas, 30 nays).

Relating to transfers from the charitable gaming operating fund to the gambling disorder prevention and treatment fund; and to authorize a full-time equivalent position for the department of health and human services.

Relating to the prohibition of, investigation of, and penalty for approving a development agreement in the state for a foreign adversary; to amend and reenact sections 11‑11‑70 and 40‑05‑26 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the investigation of and penalty for approving a development agreement in the state for a foreign adversary; and to provide a penalty.

Maddy summaryHB 1593 would require websites and online platforms (excluding news organizations) to verify users are 18+ before accessing sexual material deemed harmful to minors. It defines such material as content appealing to prurient interests, depicting sexual acts, or lacking literary/artistic value for minors, and mandates "reasonable age verification" methods like ID checks. Platforms failing this verification could face civil lawsuits from parents or individuals whose data was improperly retained, seeking damages, injunctions, or attorney fees. The bill explicitly excludes news-gathering organizations and internet service providers from liability for merely hosting content they don’t create. The bill failed to pass in the North Dakota legislature on February 17, 2025.