Rep. Lori VanWinkle

Maddy summaryHB 1513 amends North Dakota law to require municipalities to notify property owners when sidewalks need construction, repair, or rebuilding. It mandates that notices must specify the required work, its character, and give owners at least two years and six months to complete it at their own expense, with work needing approval from the street commissioner or city engineer. Notices must be delivered via certified mail, in-person, or posting on vacant land, and if owners fail to act, the municipality will complete the work and bill the owner through a sidewalk fund. This directly affects property owners whose lots benefit from sidewalk improvements.

Maddy summaryHB 1605 would ban adding fluoride to public drinking water systems in North Dakota for fluoridation purposes, directly affecting municipal water providers and public health departments. The bill prohibits adding any fluoride compound (like sodium fluoride) to public water supplies but excludes naturally occurring fluoride or industrial uses. Violators face a $500 fine for first offenses and $1,000 for repeat violations, enforced by the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill was introduced in January 2025, passed committee, but failed to advance in the legislature on February 19, 2025 (40-53 vote).

Relating to the definition of a pre-engineered structure and the threshold for procuring plans, drawings, and specifications from an architect or engineer for construction of a public improvement.

Maddy summaryHCR 3020 is a symbolic resolution urging North Dakota to formally acknowledge "the Kingship of Jesus Christ" based on religious references in the bill text. It does not create new laws, policies, or requirements; instead, it requests the state adopt this religious acknowledgment. The resolution would have required the Secretary of State to forward copies to the Governor, President, and congressional delegation. The bill failed to pass the legislature on February 18, 2025, with 31 votes in favor and 59 against.

Maddy summaryHB 1544 amends North Dakota's drainage permit requirements to clarify rules for landowners installing drainage systems. It requires permits for draining water bodies with 80+ acres of watershed or smaller systems affecting downstream property, involving investigations to prevent flooding damage and flowage easements if needed. For smaller subsurface drainage systems (under 80 acres), landowners must notify downstream neighbors and water districts 60 days in advance, follow specific installation rules (like erosion controls), and may need full permits if objections are raised. The bill directly affects agricultural landowners installing drainage systems, with provisions applying only to land used for crops or grazing. It does not cover systems discharging into fully owned water bodies.

Maddy summaryHB 1287 proposes new rules for voter registration in North Dakota, directly affecting all eligible voters and election officials. It expands registration opportunities by allowing mail-in registration (except 30 days before elections), in-person registration at county auditor offices, and registration when applying for or renewing a driver's license, changing address on a license, or accessing public assistance. The bill requires registration forms to include basic personal details (name, address, date of birth) but prohibits noting political party affiliation. It also establishes permanent registration once completed, with the secretary of state setting standard forms and procedures for the central voter file.

Maddy summaryHB 1593 would require websites and online platforms (excluding news organizations) to verify users are 18+ before accessing sexual material deemed harmful to minors. It defines such material as content appealing to prurient interests, depicting sexual acts, or lacking literary/artistic value for minors, and mandates "reasonable age verification" methods like ID checks. Platforms failing this verification could face civil lawsuits from parents or individuals whose data was improperly retained, seeking damages, injunctions, or attorney fees. The bill explicitly excludes news-gathering organizations and internet service providers from liability for merely hosting content they don’t create. The bill failed to pass in the North Dakota legislature on February 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1292 would remove carbon dioxide pipelines from being classified as "common pipeline carriers" under North Dakota law. This change directly affects owners and operators of CO2 pipelines by exempting them from requirements to transport any customer's CO2 without discrimination at set rates. The bill amends sections 49-19-01, 49-19-11, and 49-19-19 of the North Dakota Century Code to exclude CO2 pipelines from the definition and rules governing common carriers. This policy shift modifies how CO2 pipeline operations are regulated, separating them from traditional oil/gas pipeline common carrier obligations.

Relating to the establishment of the educational empowerment account for authorized educational expenses; and to amend and reenact section 15.1‑20‑02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to compulsory attendance exceptions.

Relating to eliminating foreclosure of tax liens for residential property and collection of delinquent real property and special assessment taxes; to amend and reenact sections 40‑25‑03, 57‑02‑08.9, 57‑02‑08.10, 57‑20‑26, and 57‑22‑22, subsection 1 of section 57‑38.3‑02, sections 57‑45‑12, 61‑01‑21, 61‑09‑15, 61‑16.1‑31, 61‑24.8‑40, and 61‑35‑87, relating to the primary residence credit, setoff of income tax refunds for payment of delinquent real property and special assessment taxes, and eliminating foreclosure of tax liens for primary residential property; to provide an effective date; to provide an expiration date; and to declare an emergency.