Relating to a prison industries workforce development income tax credit; to provide for a legislative management study; and to provide an effective date.
Relating to the costs of a defendant's prosecution, the cost of a presentence investigation and report, reimbursement of indigent defense costs and expenses, the fee for the indigent defense services application, the court administration fee, and the community service supervision fee; to repeal sections 12.1‑32‑02.2, 27‑01‑10, 27‑05.2‑08, 27‑05.2‑09, and 27‑05.2‑10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to repayment of rewards paid by crimestoppers programs, the fee for crime victim and witness programs, and the court facilities improvement and maintenance fund; and to provide for application.
SB 2096 provides $5 million for renovating state hospital buildings to serve individuals with mental illness under correctional custody, involuntary commitment, or court-ordered forensic exams. It also appropriates $100 million to establish four regional acute psychiatric treatment and residential supportive housing services across North Dakota. The funds will allow the Department of Health and Human Services to build up to 24-bed facilities in each region or contract with private providers for these services. The bill directly affects individuals requiring acute psychiatric care and supportive housing, with funding allocated for the 2025-2027 biennium.
HB 1415 amends North Dakota law to explicitly exempt work schedule records of employees in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and law enforcement agencies from public disclosure. This means these specific scheduling records, which were previously subject to public records requests, will no longer be accessible to the public under state law. The bill directly affects corrections and law enforcement staff by shielding their work schedules from transparency requests. The change clarifies and codifies an existing exemption within the state's public records statute.
HCR 3021 is a proposed constitutional amendment to North Dakota's judicial system. It would remove civil and criminal immunity for judges, void judgments violating due process, state/federal law, or the U.S. or North Dakota constitutions, and require judicial vacancies (supreme court or district court) to be filled by a bipartisan committee's nominees rather than solely by the governor. This directly affects all state judges and the court system by changing how judges are appointed and held accountable. The amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 primary election, as it failed to pass the legislature (13 yeas, 80 nays) in February 2025.
Relating to the cost of digital forensic examinations and the establishment of an internet crime investigation fund; to provide a continuing appropriation; and to provide a penalty.
This bill changes how North Dakota classifies petty theft of property worth $500 or less. For first offenses, it makes such theft a class B misdemeanor (a misdemeanor penalty) if committed through shoplifting or if specific conditions are met (e.g., no threat, deception in a fiduciary relationship, or the defendant not being a public servant or financial employee). Repeat offenses within specified timeframes escalate penalties: second/third offenses become class A misdemeanors, and fourth or subsequent offenses become class C felonies. Courts must also provide written notice to defendants about potential enhanced penalties for repeat offenses under this law.
HCR 3037 is a concurrent resolution directing North Dakota's Legislative Management to study establishing new requirements for public officials regarding child exploitation. It proposes examining mandatory reporting of suspected abuse by officials, creating a specialized investigative body within the Attorney General's office, and implementing severe penalties - including criminal charges, removal from office, and loss of retirement benefits - for officials who engage in, enable, or conceal such abuse. The study would also assess victim safety protections, financial impacts, and similar laws in other states. This resolution does not create new laws but directs a feasibility study to inform potential future legislation.
HB 1528 amends North Dakota's arson and endangering by fire statutes to clarify definitions and strengthen penalties. It specifies that intentionally damaging one's own property to defraud insurers or deprive others of legal interests (like mortgage holders) now qualifies as arson, a class B felony. The bill also expands "endangering" offenses to explicitly include firefighters responding to emergencies and establishes that being intoxicated while starting a fire is considered proof of intent. Offenses are classified as class A, B, or C felonies based on severity, including death, extreme indifference to life, or property damage exceeding $2,000. The law directly affects individuals committing arson or reckless fire/explosion acts, insurers, property owners, and emergency responders.
HB 1411 prohibits North Dakota state agencies, courts, and political subdivisions from adopting, implementing, or enforcing "extreme risk protection provisions" - rules or court orders that temporarily restrict firearm access for individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others. The bill explicitly bans such provisions (excluding domestic violence or mental health orders) and states that violating this prohibition is a class B felony. It also prevents state agencies from using public funds to support any related enforcement. This bill directly affects courts, law enforcement, and state agencies by blocking the implementation of "red flag" laws at the state level.
