Rep. Mary Schneider

Maddy summarySB 2289 requires law enforcement officers in North Dakota to be notified when a domestic violence protection order is issued. This bill directly affects victims of domestic violence and the police officers responding to related incidents. The key provision mandates that courts must disclose these protection orders to law enforcement agencies, ensuring officers have immediate access to critical safety information during responses. This change aims to improve officer awareness and victim safety without altering the legal standards for obtaining protection orders.

Maddy summaryThe provided context does not include the specific provisions, amendments, or policy changes in HB 1367. The bill's title and abstract only reference "amend[ing] drug crime penalties and drug paraphernalia possession" without detailing the actual changes to penalties, definitions, or affected parties. Without access to the bill's full text or specific amendments, a factual summary of its mechanisms or concrete effects cannot be created. More detailed information about the proposed changes to the North Dakota Century Code sections would be required to fulfill this request accurately.

Maddy summaryHB 1530 directs North Dakota's legislative management to study the causes of special education teacher shortages and related challenges. The study will examine specific issues affecting teachers, including excessive workloads (like uneven student caseloads and lack of planning time), safety concerns (such as inadequate crisis training and equipment), paraprofessional management gaps, and uncompensated paperwork burdens. It specifically requires analysis of how these factors impact both educators and students with disabilities. The findings will be reported to the 2027 legislature, with recommendations for potential future legislation to address the identified problems. This bill does not create new laws but mandates a detailed review of systemic issues in special education staffing.

Maddy summaryHB 1418 amends North Dakota's Century Code to clarify when law enforcement may make warrantless arrests for harassing a public safety agency. The bill specifically targets conduct that interferes with public safety personnel or operations, though the exact definition of "harassing" isn't detailed in the provided abstract. It directly affects individuals who engage in behavior deemed disruptive to emergency services or public safety operations. This is a procedural code amendment focused on defining arrest authority, not a substantive policy change with broader public impact. The context provided does not include sufficient detail to describe the specific mechanisms or scope of the amendment.

Maddy summaryHB 1504 amends North Dakota's veterans' postwar trust fund to clarify its permanent status and management. It requires all investment income from the fund to be used exclusively for veteran programs or services, with funds automatically appropriated to the veterans' affairs committee for the following biennium. The bill adds a new provision allowing veterans' organizations (as defined in state law) to donate funds specifically for programs preventing and eliminating veteran homelessness. These changes ensure the fund's resources directly support veterans' needs through established administrative channels.

Maddy summaryHB 1401 amends North Dakota law (Section 40-11-04.2) to give cities more flexibility when selling city-owned property. It allows cities to use either exclusive or nonexclusive listing agreements with licensed real estate brokers, provided they first adopt a resolution specifying the property, setting a maximum commission rate, and reserving the right to reject insufficient offers. Cities must select brokers through a competitive process for exclusive listings. This change directly affects North Dakota cities selling property, streamlining the sales process while maintaining city control over fees and offers.

Maddy summaryHB 1326 amends North Dakota's self-defense law to clarify that individuals cannot claim self-defense if they were unlawfully carrying a firearm at the time of an incident. Specifically, the bill adds that possessing a firearm in violation of state law (e.g., without a permit or due to a disqualifying offense) automatically disqualifies a person from using self-defense as a legal justification. This directly affects people who might otherwise argue self-defense while illegally holding a gun. The key provision (Section 12.1-05-03, subsection 3c) explicitly states that unlawful firearm possession negates self-defense claims during encounters involving imminent harm. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed to pass the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 2209) prevents victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse/neglect from being charged for medical exams used to gather crime evidence. It requires North Dakota's Attorney General to reimburse healthcare providers and children's advocacy centers for these exams using a $200,000 state appropriation. The law ensures victims (including children) and their guardians won't face direct billing for forensic exams or preliminary screenings. Evidence collected under this law cannot be used against victims for unrelated offenses. The funding supports domestic violence examiner programs and requires reporting on how funds are used and victim outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summarySB 2238 allows tenants evicted under North Dakota law to request the sealing of their court records after meeting specific conditions. Generally, individuals can petition to seal records seven years after satisfying the eviction order. Survivors of domestic violence who were evicted during their tenancy may immediately petition to seal records upon a conviction for domestic violence or issuance of a restraining order against their abuser. This bill directly affects evicted tenants, particularly those who experienced domestic violence, by removing their eviction records from public access.