Rep. Greg Stemen

Relating to employer eligibility to participate in the public employees retirement system defined contribution retirement plan, employer contribution requirements for the defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans, and employee eligibility to elect to transfer to the defined contribution retirement plan; to provide for retroactive application; and to declare an emergency.

Relating to the state information technology research center, advanced technology review committee, compute credits grant program, and advanced technology grant fund.

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 summarySB 2134 amends the composition of North Dakota's teachers' retirement board as specified in the Century Code. The bill modifies the structure of the board that manages the teachers' retirement fund, though the exact changes (such as member count or appointment rules) are not detailed in the provided context. This bill directly affects the governance of the retirement fund, which serves public school teachers in North Dakota. Without additional specifics on the amendments, the precise mechanisms or affected parties cannot be fully described. For complete details, review the full bill text or official legislative documents.

Maddy summarySB 2191 authorizes a legislative study to examine health care services provided in local correctional facilities. The bill itself does not change existing policies or directly affect any individuals; it only creates a process for lawmakers to review current healthcare practices in jails. The study would assess how health care is delivered, potentially identifying gaps or inefficiencies. This is a procedural measure to gather information, not a policy change, and no specific mechanisms or outcomes are defined in the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 1158 creates a new exemption for petition records held by North Dakota's Secretary of State. It makes records related to petitions for initiatives or referendums confidential until the Secretary either approves the petition's sufficiency under state law or 35 days pass after receiving the records. This directly affects petitioners and the Secretary of State's office by delaying public access to these documents during the initial review period. The law changes transparency rules but does not alter how petitions are submitted or processed.

Maddy summaryHB 1213 establishes a new "Jail Improvement Revolving Loan Fund" administered by the Bank of North Dakota to provide low-interest loans for jail infrastructure projects. It directly affects counties and regional correctional authorities, enabling them to apply for loans (up to $40 million at 2% interest over 30 years) to renovate, expand, or replace aging jail facilities meeting specific cost and capacity criteria. The bill creates a committee to review applications based on factors like inmate occupancy, structure age, and community support, and mandates a $200 million transfer from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund to seed the new loan program for the 2025-2027 biennium. The fund operates as a revolving loan program, with principal and interest repayments replenishing the fund for future projects.

Maddy summaryHB 1235 amends North Dakota's agriculture infrastructure grant program to specifically fund road and bridge improvements needed for value-added agriculture businesses. It directs the agriculture commissioner (with transportation department input) to award grants to counties, cities, and townships for projects like corridor upgrades on local roads or access road/bridge repairs serving these businesses. The bill directly affects local governments managing infrastructure and businesses processing agricultural products (like food manufacturing or packaging). Key provisions require grants to target infrastructure directly supporting value-added agriculture operations, not general road maintenance. This law, signed by the governor on March 24, 2025, clarifies and expands the program's focus.

Maddy summaryHB 1142 amends North Dakota law to adjust annual liability caps for political subdivisions (like cities, counties, and school districts) when sued for negligence. It increases the maximum payout per person from $406,250 (effective July 2023) to $500,000 by July 2026, with corresponding increases for total claims per incident. The bill also clarifies that political subdivisions are generally not liable for discretionary decisions, public duty performance (like inspections or law enforcement), or certain road maintenance. These changes apply to claims arising from single incidents involving government entities.

Maddy summaryHB 1253 amends North Dakota law to clarify the attorney general's authority to impose fines for gaming violations. It directly affects licensed gaming organizations (including charities operating as agents), distributors, manufacturers, and authorized site owners who fail to comply with gaming rules. The bill establishes specific fine tiers: minimum $25 (up to 2% of quarterly revenue) for organizations, $100 for distributors, $500 for manufacturers, and $250 for site owners, with fines potentially replacing license suspensions or revocations. These provisions create clear, structured penalties instead of vague prior language.