AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 27-05-06 and chapter 40-18.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to jurisdiction of district courts and municipal court requirements, jurisdiction, procedures, and processes; to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 29-07-01.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to indigent defense; and to repeal sections 40-11-10, 40-11-11, 40-11-12, and 40-11-13 and chapter 40-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to ordinance violations and municipal judges.

Cities with fewer than 5,000 residents without existing municipal courts now qualify for municipal court jurisdiction, and new agreement sections were added for joint municipal court arrangements.

The threshold for disqualifying repeat offenders from municipal court jurisdiction was increased from two prior convictions in seven years to three prior convictions in fifteen years.

Indigent defense funding responsibilities were clarified to specify that home rule counties pay for county ordinance violations, while cities pay for municipal court ordinance violations.

Municipal courts will officially become courts of record beginning July 1, 2026, changing their legal status and record-keeping requirements.

Indigent defense application fees remain at $35, but the fee structure and waiver provisions were updated to align with the new court system requirements.