SB 2331 North Dakota Senate · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-60 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the Theodore Roosevelt national park working group; to provide a report; and to provide an appropriation.

SB 2331 establishes a working group to manage wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, directly affecting park operations, local tourism, and conservation efforts. The group must maintain the wild horse population above 200 through nonlethal methods (like birth control or relocation), promote horse-related tourism, and submit annual reports to lawmakers. It requires a $50,000 state appropriation for the 2025-2027 biennium to support these activities. The bill mandates quarterly meetings and collaboration with the National Park Service, focusing on concrete management and tourism strategies without specifying outcomes.
Bill status passed 2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Failed
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Last action Feb 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

INTRODUCED FIRST ENGROSSMENT · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from 25.0598.03000 to 25.0598.04000 and updated to reflect its first engrossment status. The most significant substantive change is an increase in the working group's funding from $50,000 to $49,500 for the 2025-2027 biennium. Additionally, the working group's management activities now include an exception allowing lethal measures if a horse's health or safety is compromised, whereas previously all activities had to be nonlethal.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on managing wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, but the management approach has been modified to allow for lethal measures in specific circumstances.
FISCAL

Funding amount for the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Working Group was reduced from $50,000 to $49,500 for the 2025-2027 biennium.

REQUIREMENT

Working group management activities can now include lethal measures if a horse's health or safety is compromised, whereas previously all activities had to be humane and nonlethal.

TECHNICAL

Bill was renumbered from section 25.0598.03000 to 25.0598.04000 and updated to reflect first engrossment status in the legislative process.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2025

How they voted

1433
Failed
Total votes 47
Feb 12, 2025
D Democratic5
5 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican42
9 Yea 33 Nay
78% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
3
Committee
2
Feb 12, 2025
Vote failed
Senate Vote: fail (14-33)
senate
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back amended, do not pass, placed on calendar 4 2 0
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:00
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred State and Local Government Committee
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors