HB 1136 would amend a North Dakota law to change penalties for oilseed buyers who fail to submit required assessments to the oilseed council. It specifies that first purchasers (oilseed buyers) who miss deadlines would face a penalty of either $500 or 10% of the unpaid amount, whichever is larger, plus 6% annual interest. The bill directly affects commercial oilseed buyers required to pay assessments to the North Dakota Oilseed Council. This change replaces the previous penalty structure with a clearer, formula-based approach.
HB 1461 would have created a state-funded tribal health care coordination fund to support tribal governments in North Dakota. The bill required the state to distribute funds to tribes based on their federal care coordination funding, with strict rules: funds must cover specific public health services (capping capital construction at 50% until 2025, then 35%), and tribes would need to submit annual reports and biennial audits by independent auditors. The state would withhold funds for late reports or misuse, and could resume payments once compliance was verified. This bill was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn before further consideration.
HB 1202 would allocate $3 million from North Dakota's flexible transportation fund to a specific county impacted by a state supreme court case involving a drainage project. The grant, intended for a single two-year period (2025-2027), covers project costs including litigation expenses, inflation adjustments, and other drainage-related expenditures. It overrides standard fund designation rules under section 24-02-37.3, directing the Department of Transportation to distribute the funds as a one-time grant. The bill failed to pass in committee and on the floor during the 2025 legislative session.
HB 1243 would require insurers to let vehicle owners choose whether to keep their car after it’s deemed a total loss (where repair costs exceed value) or let the insurer take it. The bill also prohibits insurers from charging owners extra fees to return the vehicle following a total loss determination. This directly affects North Dakota drivers with insurance policies covering physical damage who experience a total-loss accident. The bill aims to simplify ownership options and eliminate unexpected costs for policyholders in these situations.
SB 2178 amends North Dakota's election laws to update how voter data is stored and accessed. It specifies that the central voter file must include personal details like name, address, voting history, and driver's license numbers, while restricting access to certain data fields for political candidates and parties. The bill clarifies that only designated voter information (such as address and election preferences) can be used for election-related purposes, and "secured active" voter records remain private. It also standardizes absentee ballot application requirements for primary elections. The bill focuses on administrative clarity for voter file management.
SB 2311 proposes to establish a bioscience innovation grant program in North Dakota, providing funding to small bioscience businesses (with less than $2.5 million in annual sales and at least two employees) for innovation and commercialization. The program would require grant recipients to match up to 50% of funding and prohibit use for capital improvements, academic programming, or workforce training. It aims to support job creation for state university graduates, foster new bioscience startups, and advance technologies in areas like crop genetics, biofuels, and livestock operations. The program would be administered through a collaborative committee involving state agencies, universities, and a bioscience association.
HB 1413 would create a state program to safely connect food donors (like businesses) with charities, making it easier to donate surplus food. Donors must be licensed under existing food safety rules, while charities wouldn’t need commercial kitchens or special certification but must follow local health unit food handling standards. Local health units would inspect donors, verify food handlers, and set safety rules, with donors protected from liability if following guidelines. The program would include educational resources and potential grants to support participation, aiming to reduce food waste while ensuring safety.
SCR 4004 is a joint resolution designating April 21-28, 2025, as "North Dakota Dark Sky Week." It urges building owners, operators, and tenants to voluntarily reduce unnecessary lighting during migration seasons to help protect birds and reduce light pollution. The resolution specifically encourages participation in observing and supporting dark sky resources, without creating new legal requirements or penalties.
HB 1251 would prohibit North Dakota public schools from holding extracurricular activities - including games, practices, performances, or competitions - on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter Sunday. The bill defines "family days" as these specific holidays under existing state law and applies to all school activities, whether required or optional. It directly affects school districts and student participation in events on these dates. The proposed law failed to pass in January 2025 after committee review.
HB 1060 would amend North Dakota Century Code sections 65-01-15, 65-01-15.1, and 65-01-15.2 to automatically provide workers' compensation coverage for work-related injuries sustained by correctional officers. If passed, it would eliminate the need for these officers to prove their injuries were job-related to receive benefits. The bill directly affects correctional officers working in North Dakota state facilities. This change would simplify the compensation process for affected officers under the existing workers' compensation system.
HB 1436 proposes to amend North Dakota's motor vehicle excise tax code by establishing age-based tax rates: 5% for vehicles under 11 years old, 3% for vehicles 11-25 years old, and 1% for vehicles over 25 years old. The tax applies to the purchase price of any motor vehicle acquired for use in North Dakota, whether bought inside or outside the state. The bill would have taken effect for taxable events occurring after June 30, 2025, but failed to pass the legislature in January 2025. This change would directly affect individuals purchasing new or used vehicles in North Dakota, altering the tax burden based on vehicle age.
HB 1187 creates a legal lien on fire insurance proceeds for debris removal after a total property loss. It directly affects property owners with fire insurance claims and local governments (cities or counties) in North Dakota. The bill requires insurers to notify owners and local auditors within 10 days of a total loss, allowing cities/counties to claim a lien equal to the greater of $5,000 or 10% of the policy’s real property coverage. The lien must be filed within 30 days and applies only to debris removal costs, not personal property or temporary housing payments. Local governments must release the lien once remediation is complete or insurance pays the claim.
