HB 1514 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 23.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to harmful atmospheric activity; and to provide a penalty.

HB 1514 would have prohibited "harmful atmospheric activity" in North Dakota, including weather modification techniques like cloud seeding, stratospheric aerosol injection, and unmarked aircraft operations that could harm humans or the environment. It defined specific prohibited actions, set a class C felony penalty with up to $500,000 fines for violations, and created a reporting system for citizens to document suspected incidents with evidence like photos or radiation measurements. The bill also established technical limits for electromagnetic radiation and required sheriffs or the environmental director to investigate reports within 24 hours. This bill failed to pass in the North Dakota legislature on February 24, 2025, with 28 votes in favor and 63 against.
Bill status passed 2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Failed
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Last action Feb 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

INTRODUCED FIRST ENGROSSMENT · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from 25.1002.02000 to 25.1002.03000 and added a new exemption for agricultural aircraft operations. The substantive policy content regarding penalties, reporting requirements, and enforcement mechanisms remained unchanged despite reorganization of the text structure.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly excludes individuals operating aircraft for aerial application of agricultural chemicals or materials from its prohibitions and penalties.
ELIGIBILITY

Added an exemption clause stating the law does not apply to individuals operating aircraft for aerial application of agricultural chemicals or materials.

DEFINITION

Bill section number changed from 25.1002.02000 to 25.1002.03000, indicating a reorganization or renumbering of the statute.

TECHNICAL

Text structure was reorganized with some lines moved and renumbered, but the substantive policy language regarding penalties, reporting, and enforcement remained consistent.

Floor votes · House Feb 24, 2025

How they voted

2861
Failed · 2 other
Total votes 91
Feb 24, 2025
D Democratic11
1 Yea 10 Nay
90% Nay
R Republican80
27 Yea 51 Nay 2
63% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
3
Committee
2
Feb 24, 2025
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (28-61-2)
house
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do not pass, placed on calendar 7 6 1
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
lower
Jan 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Agriculture Committee
lower
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors

Sponsors