Sen. Jeff Barta

Maddy summarySB 2146 creates North Dakota's participation in an interstate occupational therapy licensure compact. It allows licensed occupational therapists from participating states to practice in North Dakota under a "compact privilege" without needing a separate state license, provided the patient is physically located in North Dakota during care. This mutual recognition improves access to therapy services for patients across state lines while preserving each state's authority to regulate practice and protect public safety. The compact also standardizes how states share disciplinary information and handle complaints between member states.

Maddy summarySB 2169 requires physical therapists in North Dakota to communicate the overall treatment plan to patients and obtain their informed consent, or consent from a legally authorized representative. This law directly affects physical therapy patients and providers across the state by establishing a clear communication and consent standard. The key provision mandates that therapists explain care plans before treatment begins, ensuring patients understand their options. The bill became law after the Governor signed it on April 2, 2025. It focuses on patient autonomy in physical therapy care without altering other treatment protocols.

Relating to the regulation of conveyances and elevator contractors, mechanics, and inspectors; to amend and reenact sections 43‑09‑01 and 43‑09‑02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to definitions applicable to conveyance regulation and the membership of the state electrical board; to provide a penalty; and to provide for application.

Maddy summarySB 2249 directs the Legislative Management Committee to conduct a study on health care mandates. This procedural bill does not change existing laws or directly affect specific groups; it only requires the committee to examine current mandate requirements in health care. The study will assess the scope and impact of these mandates, but the bill itself contains no policy changes. (1 sentence summary per procedural bill guidance).

Maddy summarySB 2238 allows tenants evicted under North Dakota law to request the sealing of their court records after meeting specific conditions. Generally, individuals can petition to seal records seven years after satisfying the eviction order. Survivors of domestic violence who were evicted during their tenancy may immediately petition to seal records upon a conviction for domestic violence or issuance of a restraining order against their abuser. This bill directly affects evicted tenants, particularly those who experienced domestic violence, by removing their eviction records from public access.

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 2136 amends North Dakota laws (sections 5-04-02 and 5-04-14 of the Century Code) to regulate relationships between brewers and beer wholesalers. It prohibits brewers from: forcing wholesalers to accept unrequested products, threatening to cancel agreements to compel illegal actions, restricting wholesalers' ability to sell competing brands (unless quality/sales are materially harmed), demanding confidential financial data, failing to provide written contracts, or mandating specific e-commerce platforms. The bill also requires new brewer owners to honor existing agreements with wholesalers, unless "good cause" exists under state law. This directly affects brewers and beer wholesalers operating in North Dakota by establishing clearer, more transparent business terms.

Maddy summarySB 2260 updates North Dakota's geographic coordinate system definitions in state law. It formally establishes four coordinate systems: the North Dakota coordinate system of 1927 and 1983 (divided into north/south zones), the statewide North Dakota coordinate system of 2022 (one zone), and sixteen low-distortion coordinate zones for the 2022 system (e.g., "Fargo zone," "Bismarck zone"). The bill specifies how these systems must be referenced in land descriptions, such as "North Dakota coordinate system of 1983, north zone" or "Fargo zone of the North Dakota coordinate system of 2022." This procedural update primarily affects land surveyors, government agencies, and property records that rely on standardized geographic coordinates.

Maddy summaryHCR 3033 is a concurrent resolution directing North Dakota's Legislative Management to study whether legislators should be allowed to hire personal legislative staff. It would examine the potential benefits of this practice, including comparing it to other states' approaches, and assess how it might support legislators during term limit transitions. The resolution requires Legislative Management to report findings and any needed legislation to the next legislative session. This resolution directly affects current and future legislators by exploring a potential change to their staffing resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1496 amends North Dakota law to clarify landlords' responsibilities for maintaining rental properties. It requires landlords to comply with health/safety building codes, make necessary repairs, keep common areas clean, maintain essential systems (like plumbing and heating), and provide running water and reasonable heat (68°F Oct-April, seasonally appropriate May-Sept). The bill allows written agreements between landlords and tenants of single-family homes for tenants to handle specific tasks (like waste removal), but only with good faith and separate written terms. It explicitly states landlords cannot make such agreements a condition for rental obligations. This directly affects landlords and tenants in North Dakota residential rentals.