Rep. Mike Schatz

Maddy summaryHB 1144 amends North Dakota law to require public school students to use restrooms and facilities corresponding to their sex assigned at birth, directly affecting transgender students in public schools. The bill mandates schools to enforce this policy, with penalties for noncompliance including potential loss of state funding. It declares an emergency to expedite the law's implementation. The legislation replaces existing accommodations for transgender students with a policy based on biological sex. This change alters school restroom access policies for transgender youth without providing alternative accommodations.

Maddy summaryHB 1151 prohibits businesses from misrepresenting cell-cultured protein (lab-grown food from animal cells without slaughter) as meat. It requires clear labeling as "cell-cultured food product" and bans packaging that could confuse consumers into thinking it is meat. The law directly affects food producers and sellers of cell-cultured products in North Dakota. It repeals an outdated section of law about misrepresentation, making the new labeling rules the current standard. The bill became law after the governor signed it on April 23, 2025.

Relating to a licensed premises serving alcohol and refusal to furnish a photo identification; to amend and reenact section 5‑02‑10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the time frame to file a complaint against a licensed retailer of alcoholic beverages; and to provide a penalty.

Relating to designating the bridge on state highway 22 in Dickinson as the Specialist Jon P. Fettig Iraq bridge; to provide a continuing appropriation; and to declare an emergency.

Maddy summaryHB 1204 amends North Dakota law to establish a penalty for publishing false information in political advertisements. The bill directly affects political campaigns, candidates, and organizations that run political ads within the state. It creates a legal consequence for knowingly distributing false claims in such advertisements, though the specific penalty amount or enforcement details are not detailed in the provided abstract. This amendment updates the state's legal framework to address misinformation in political advertising.

Maddy summaryHB 1327 allows North Dakota vehicle owners with active federal amateur radio licenses to replace standard license plates with special plates displaying their FCC-assigned call letters and "AMATEUR RADIO." Applicants can receive up to five plates with the same call letters, each labeled with an additional number (2-5). To qualify, owners must provide proof of their valid amateur radio license, comply with standard vehicle registration requirements, and pay the regular registration fee. This bill directly affects licensed amateur radio operators who register vehicles in North Dakota.

Maddy summaryHB 1458 would have required North Dakota's legislative management to conduct a study on limiting the development and release of self-spreading viruses and bacteria. The study would have examined who is involved in such work, health impacts and data on adverse effects, potential enforcement measures, and possible exceptions. It was not a law but a procedural request for analysis, intended to inform future legislation. The bill failed to pass in the March 2025 legislative session (16 yeas, 29 nays) and remains inactive. No policy changes were enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1474 proposes a new tax based on the square footage of residential properties in North Dakota, replacing the traditional ad valorem tax for many homeowners. It directly affects residential property owners (including single-family homes, condos, and townhouses), local governments that collect taxes, and businesses installing solar/wind/geothermal systems through new tax credits. Key provisions include establishing a per-square-foot tax rate on both land and structures, modifying existing property tax credit rules for energy-efficient installations, and requiring county boards to adjust tax assessments under new valuation requirements. The bill also repeals an existing exemption for new residential properties and sets limits on how much local governments can levy through this new tax structure. The bill failed to pass in the North Dakota legislature on March 11, 2025, with 5 votes in favor and 42 against.

Maddy summaryHB 1509 amends North Dakota's Century Code (section 4.1-09-19) to clarify procedures for oilseed producers seeking refunds of assessments paid to the oilseed council. Producers must submit a refund request within 60 days of payment and provide assessment records within 90 days after one year, triggering a 30-day refund processing window by the council. The bill requires the council to provide a refund form online and sets a $5 minimum refund threshold. It does not change the assessment amount or create new policies, only standardizing the refund process for affected producers.

Maddy summaryHB 1244 would create a North Dakota income tax credit for parents who home-educate their children. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $10,000 per qualifying child annually (or $5,000 for married filers filing separately) for qualified educational expenses like books, tuition, computers, and software. To qualify, the child must be a dependent under 19, home-educated under North Dakota law, and the expenses must be directly related to home education. The credit would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and cannot exceed the taxpayer’s total income tax liability. This bill directly affects North Dakota parents who homeschool their children and choose to claim this tax benefit.