Relating to a legacy earnings fund, a legacy property tax relief fund, a state reimbursed taxable valuation reduction for residential, agricultural, and commercial property, limitations on taxable valuation increases, and voter-approved excess levy authority; to amend and reenact section 6‑09.4‑10.1, subsection 1 of section 21‑10‑06, section 54‑27‑19.3, subdivision c of subsection 1 of section 57‑02‑08.1, subdivision b of subsection 2 of section 57‑02‑08.1, and section 57‑02‑08.10, of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to funds invested by the state investment board, the homestead tax credit and renters refund, and the primary residence credit certification and state reimbursement; to repeal sections 21‑10‑12, 21‑10‑13, and 57‑02‑08.9 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to legacy fund definitions, the legacy earnings fund, and the primary residence credit; to provide an appropriation; to provide for a transfer; to provide an effective date; and to provide an expiration date.
HB 1395 requires landlords in North Dakota to provide prospective tenants with proof of completed criminal, credit, or background checks within seven days of the check. This applies directly to landlords who require such checks as part of the rental application process and affects renters who pay application fees. If landlords fail to provide this proof on time, they must refund all fees paid by the prospective tenant. The bill, which failed to pass in the legislature on March 28, 2025, aimed to increase transparency in rental screening practices.
HB 1496 amends North Dakota law to clarify landlords' responsibilities for maintaining rental properties. It requires landlords to comply with health/safety building codes, make necessary repairs, keep common areas clean, maintain essential systems (like plumbing and heating), and provide running water and reasonable heat (68°F Oct-April, seasonally appropriate May-Sept). The bill allows written agreements between landlords and tenants of single-family homes for tenants to handle specific tasks (like waste removal), but only with good faith and separate written terms. It explicitly states landlords cannot make such agreements a condition for rental obligations. This directly affects landlords and tenants in North Dakota residential rentals.
SB 2030 allocates $10 million to North Dakota's Housing Finance Agency for homeless grants and $50,000 for a homelessness study during the 2025-2027 biennium. It also provides $1 million to the Department of Public Instruction for homelessness liaison services in the state's ten largest school districts, requiring each district to match state funds dollar-for-dollar. Additionally, the bill transfers $200 million to the Housing Incentive Fund and mandates a legislative study on homelessness to identify funding gaps and solutions. These provisions directly affect homeless individuals, school districts, and state agencies managing housing and education services.
SB 2301 would adjust North Dakota's homestead tax credit for qualifying seniors and permanently disabled residents. It changes income eligibility thresholds to 325% of federal poverty guidelines (up from $40,000) and increases the maximum credit from $9,000 to $13,500 based on household size. The bill also clarifies that the credit continues if a recipient resides in a care facility (like a nursing home) without renting their homestead. This would directly affect older adults and disabled residents meeting income limits, providing relief on property taxes for their primary homes. The proposed changes would take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.
SB 2366 would require landlords in North Dakota to include specific information about legal aid services in eviction notices. The bill mandates that notices of intention to evict must list contact details for nonprofit organizations providing free legal help to low-income and elderly tenants. This applies to all evictions under sections 47-32-01(4), (5), (6), and (8) of the state code. The change aims to ensure tenants receive clear information about available legal assistance before eviction proceedings begin. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed to pass during committee review.
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.
