Transportation

HB 1201 modifies North Dakota law governing bridges and culverts over drainage systems that intersect roads. It requires the water resource board to construct bridges/culverts for private land access, with costs shared between the board and land districts, and mandates counties to maintain these structures with 40% cost responsibility. For state highway culverts crossing drains spanning three or more counties, the bill requires installation of control valve systems to manage water flow. This bill directly affects counties, water resource boards, and land districts responsible for drainage infrastructure maintenance and costs.

Relating to rail passenger authority agreements and a legacy earnings fund; to amend and reenact section 6‑09.4‑10.1, subsection 1 of section 21‑10‑06, and sections 24‑02‑37.3, 54‑27‑19, and 57‑40.3‑10, section 57‑51.1‑07.5 as amended by Senate Bill No. 2323 as approved by the sixty-ninth legislative assembly, and sections 57‑51.1‑07.7 and 57‑51.1‑07.8 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to funds invested by the state investment board, the flexible transportation fund, the highway tax distribution fund, motor vehicle excise tax collections, the state share of oil and gas taxes, the municipal infrastructure fund, and the county and township infrastructure fund; to repeal sections 21‑10‑12, 21‑10‑13, 54‑27‑19.3, and 54‑27‑19.4 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to legacy fund definitions, a legacy earnings fund, the legacy earnings highway distribution fund, and legacy earnings township highway aid fund; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide for application; to provide an effective date; and to provide an exemption.

HB 1340 amends North Dakota's vehicle tint law to clarify light transmittance requirements for window tinting. It requires that front windshields and front windows allow at least 70% light transmittance (meaning the tint can't be too dark), while other windows must allow at least 35% transmittance. The law does not apply to rear windows if a vehicle has outside mirrors meeting standard requirements. This directly affects drivers who install window tint, ensuring visibility for safety while maintaining existing exceptions for rear windows with proper mirrors.

SB 2011 appropriates $68 million (including $47.6 million from the general fund) to cover North Dakota Highway Patrol operating costs for the 2025-2027 biennium. It specifies funding sources, including $10.9 million transferred from the state highway tax fund and $1.4 million from motor carrier permit fees. The bill also authorizes $200 monthly payments to Highway Patrol officers for travel-related expenses (meals and non-lodging costs) during the same period. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, directly affecting the Highway Patrol's budget and officers' travel allowances.

HB 1195 proposed changing the penalty fee for illegally overtaking or passing a school bus in North Dakota from an unspecified amount to $500. It directly affects drivers who violate school bus stop laws, as it would have increased the financial penalty for this traffic offense. The bill aimed to amend a specific section of North Dakota's traffic code (39-06.1-06) by updating the fee amount in subsection 2, subdivision k. The bill was introduced on January 10, 2025, but withdrawn from consideration on January 15, 2025, without becoming law.

Relating to designating a portion of state highway 5 in Bottineau as the LCDR Carl J. Woods Vietnam bridge; to provide a continuing appropriation; and to declare an emergency.

Relating to designating the bridge on state highway 6 as the CPL Raymond Porter Korea bridge; to provide a continuing appropriation; and to declare an emergency.

Relating to a rail revolving loan fund and uses of the abandoned oil and gas well plugging and site reclamation fund; to amend and reenact subsection 7 of section 6‑08.1‑02 and sections 6‑09‑35, 6‑09‑46.2, 6‑09.7‑05, 6‑09.14‑04, and 49‑17.1‑02.1, subsection 1 of section 54‑17‑40, and subdivision a of subsection 4 of section 54‑17.7‑04 of the North Dakota Century Code, and section 15 of chapter 14 of the 2023 Session Laws, relating to confidential and exempt records of the Bank of North Dakota, the rebuilders loan program, loan guarantees through the strategic investment and improvements fund, interest rate buydown limits for the partnership in assisting community expansion fund, department of transportation review and approval of rail projects, uses of the housing incentive fund, North Dakota pipeline borrowing authority, and a salt cavern underground energy storage research project; to repeal section 3 of Senate Bill No. 2188, as approved by the sixty-ninth legislative assembly, relating to a transfer from the strategic investment and improvements fund to the clean sustainable energy fund; to provide a deficiency appropriation; to provide for a transfer; to provide an exemption; to provide for a legislative management study; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide for a report; to provide an effective date; and to declare an emergency.

HB 1518 would update North Dakota's traffic code to clarify rules for driving around rotary traffic islands (roundabouts). It requires vehicles to drive only to the right of such islands and mandates drivers to signal before exiting a rotary. The bill specifically applies to drivers navigating designated roundabouts on one-way roadways, as defined in the amended traffic code section. This proposal did not pass the legislature, with 3 votes in favor and 43 against.

SB 2225 appropriates $50 million from North Dakota's Strategic Investment Fund to the Department of Commerce for grants supporting housing infrastructure. The bill provides funding to local communities (with allocations based on population size) to lower costs for infrastructure needed for market-rate housing projects, requiring a 1:1 match from local governments, developers, and private funds. Communities must use the funds for infrastructure like roads or utilities to support new housing, with reporting requirements to the legislature by June 2026. The program expires June 30, 2027, and aims to address housing needs in both urban and rural areas.