SB 2235 amends North Dakota law to clarify how partial rent payments are applied when a tenant pays less than the full amount due. It requires that any insufficient payment for lodging (like apartments) must first cover the outstanding rent amount, not late fees or other charges, unless the tenant specifies otherwise at the time of payment. This directly affects residential renters and landlords across North Dakota by standardizing payment priorities under rental agreements. The bill does not change rent due dates or amounts but ensures payments are applied to the core rent obligation first. The bill failed to pass in the 2025 legislative session.
SB 2237 would require North Dakota's labor commissioner to investigate tenant complaints about landlords violating specific housing laws (sections 47-16-20 and 47-32-02) and take disciplinary action against non-compliant landlords. The bill mandates that the labor commissioner provide landlords with written notice of alleged violations and a reasonable time to fix the issues before taking action, with notice delivered personally or via certified mail. Landlords directly affected would face potential disciplinary measures under this new process, while tenants would gain a formal channel to report housing disputes. The bill aimed to expand the labor commissioner's role from workplace safety to certain landlord-tenant enforcement, though it failed to pass in February 2025.
SB 2236 would have limited late fees on rental payments in North Dakota to no more than 8% of the overdue rent amount. The bill specifically applied to landlords and renters in standard residential rental agreements, capping fees for payments not made by the end of the month or the date specified in the lease. It amended North Dakota's Century Code to replace existing late fee rules with this 8% maximum. The proposal aimed to prevent excessive late charges but failed to pass the legislature in February 2025.
This bill would limit annual maintenance fees for drainage systems to $4 per acre on farmland, with two calculation methods: either based on historical benefit levels or uniform assessment across all farmland. Non-farm property would be charged up to $2 for every $500 in taxable value. It also allows drainage districts to accumulate funds over six years if annual fees don’t cover repair costs, and requires landowner approval via recorded vote for costs exceeding that six-year limit. The bill directly affects agricultural and non-agricultural landowners in North Dakota drainage districts.
HB 1557 proposed a one-time appropriation of $221,993 from the state water commissioner fund to reimburse North Dakota residents for legal fees incurred in watershed lawsuits heard by the North Dakota Supreme Court. The funding would cover the biennium starting July 1, 2025, specifically targeting residents facing litigation over watershed issues. The bill aimed to provide direct financial relief for individuals bearing legal costs in these specific court cases. However, the bill failed to pass on second reading in the legislature on February 4, 2025, with only 6 votes in favor and 85 against.
SB 2312 would create a property tax exemption in North Dakota for land owned by charitable organizations and used primarily for non-profit equine events, such as horse shows or competitions. This exemption would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, directly benefiting qualifying charitable groups that host these events. The bill adds a new provision to the state tax code specifying that such property is exempt from property taxation. It does not change existing tax rules for for-profit equine businesses or other property uses. The bill failed to pass in committee and was rejected during floor debate in February 2025.
SB 2388 would allow human-use ivermectin (a medication approved by the FDA for parasitic infections) to be sold without a prescription in North Dakota. This change would directly affect pharmacies, consumers seeking the medication, and healthcare providers by removing the current requirement for a doctor's prescription. The bill proposes creating a new law in North Dakota's code that explicitly permits over-the-counter sales of ivermectin for human use. It does not address medical use, safety, or other forms of ivermectin, focusing solely on changing pharmacy access rules.
SB 2182 streamlines how North Dakota state agencies can amend or repeal administrative rules by allowing direct agreement between the agency and the Administrative Rules Committee, bypassing standard public comment and review processes. It directly affects state agencies that create rules and the committee responsible for reviewing them. The key provision (Section 6) permits agencies to change rules through committee agreement without following full adoption requirements, though the committee must reconsider the change at a future meeting if requested by the agency or public. This bill does not change the rules themselves but alters the process for modifying them.
HB 1182 allocates $611,000 from North Dakota's Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund to Dickey County for a specific road project. The funding would replace a culvert system and raise the road grade to address recurring flooding on a local road. This one-time appropriation is intended for the 2025-2027 biennium and directly supports Dickey County's infrastructure needs. The bill does not create new regulations but provides targeted financial support for a flood mitigation project.
SB 2283 requires agricultural landowners to notify water resource boards and downstream neighbors before installing subsurface drainage systems covering less than 80 acres. It mandates specific installation standards (like 25-foot setbacks from drains, erosion controls, and pump shutdowns during floods) and creates a 30-day objection period for neighbors. If objections are filed, the system owner must apply for a permit; otherwise, mediation is required before lawsuits over drainage damage can proceed. Violations would be punishable as infractions. The bill applies only to agricultural drainage systems and excludes privately owned water bodies.
SB 2066 would have amended North Dakota's law (Section 12-48-03.1 of the Century Code) governing the sale of goods produced by prison industries. It aimed to change the rules for businesses selling products made by incarcerated workers within the state. The bill failed to pass in the legislature on February 3, 2025, with no votes in favor and 46 opposing votes. This means the existing rules for selling prison-made products remain unchanged.
SB 2246 appropriates $49,500 from the general fund to the North Dakota Legislative Council for a one-time study on regenerative grazing. The bill directs a consultant to research the feasibility of creating a regenerative grazing ranch (focused on soil health and carbon absorption) and study how regenerative grazing practices affect carbon levels, rangeland productivity, and ranching sustainability. Key provisions require gathering scientific data, connecting ranchers with stakeholders, and identifying funding sources for carbon management practices. The study would involve input from the agriculture commissioner, mineral resources department, and ranching/energy industry stakeholders, with findings to be reported to the next legislative assembly. This bill does not create the ranch but examines whether it would benefit North Dakota's ranching and energy sectors.
