AN ACT to provide an appropriation to the state historical society for Native American grave protection and repatriation compliance efforts.
HB 1603 appropriates $500,000 from North Dakota's general fund to the state historical society for compliance with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The funds establish a committee with tribal historic preservation officers, state agencies, and the attorney general's office to prioritize returning human remains, sacred objects, and culturally significant items to North Dakota tribes. Tribes must contribute up to $100,000 in matching funds for committee efforts, and all funds must be tracked separately. The bill explicitly prohibits using these funds for new scientific studies of ancestral remains. This law directly affects North Dakota tribes and the state historical society by enabling repatriation efforts under federal law.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 20, 2025
Signed Apr 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
SECOND ENGROSSMENT
→
Enrollment
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill was transitioned from its second engrossment version to final enrollment, adding formal certification signatures and vote counts while removing draft markup indicators. The substantive policy content remains unchanged, maintaining a $500,000 appropriation for Native American grave protection compliance efforts.
TECHNICAL
Added certification signatures for Speaker of House, President of Senate, Chief Clerk of House, and Secretary of Senate to finalize the bill's official status.
Added vote counts showing House approval (87 yeas, 0 nays) and Senate approval (46 yeas, 0 nays) with attendance records.
Removed draft markup indicators and page numbering that were used during the legislative review process.
Added Governor signature lines and Secretary of State filing certification to complete the enrollment process.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 9, 2025 · House Feb 20, 2025
How they voted
46–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 47
Apr 9, 2025
D
Democratic5
100% Yea
R
Republican42
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
21
Key actions
11
Committee
8
Apr 21, 2025
Introduced
Filed with Secretary Of State 04/16
legislature
Apr 18, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor 04/16
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 0
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 15 0 1
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Committee
Rereferred to Appropriations
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back, do pass 6 0 0
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 03:15
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred State and Local Government Committee
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 87 nays 0
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 20 0 3
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Committee
Rereferred to Appropriations
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 12 1 1
lower
Jan 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
lower
Jan 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs Committee
lower
1 primary · 7 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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