Rep. Jay Fisher

Maddy summaryHB 1487 transfers a specific 1.25-acre parcel of land in Minot (Ward County) from the North Dakota Department of Transportation to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), exempting the transfer from standard property rules. It appropriates $4.9 million from the general fund to construct a facility on this land, to be leased to other state agencies for the 2025-2027 biennium. The funding is a one-time allocation not subject to typical budget constraints and may carry over into the next biennium. This bill directly affects the OMB (as the recipient of land and funds) and state agencies leasing the new facility.

Maddy summaryHB 1531 appropriates $75,000 from North Dakota's general fund to the Agriculture Commissioner for a study on expanding irrigation infrastructure. The study will examine economic benefits of increased irrigation in rural communities, impacts of past water projects under the Pick-Sloan Act, and differences in economic value between irrigated vs. non-irrigated land. It requires a consultant to analyze these factors and submit findings with policy recommendations to legislative leaders by July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects agricultural producers and rural communities by assessing how irrigation expansion could impact local economies.

Maddy summaryHB 1170 amends North Dakota's Century Code section 54-06-14, which governs state employee annual leave. The bill modifies the rules for how state employees accrue or use annual leave, though the specific changes (e.g., accrual rates, eligibility) are not detailed in the provided abstract. It applies directly to all state employees covered under this code section. The bill includes an effective date provision but does not specify the exact policy modifications.

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.

Relating to a commercial entity's liability for publishing or distributing sexual material harmful to a minor; to provide a penalty; and to provide for application.

Maddy summarySB 2379 amends North Dakota law to require that entities conducting eminent domain proceedings (like government agencies or utilities) obtain either the landowner's written consent or a court order before surveying property. This change directly affects landowners whose property may be subject to eminent domain and the agencies or companies seeking to use it for public projects. The bill mandates that surveys must be conducted in a way that maximizes public benefit while minimizing private harm to landowners. It updates the existing process to clarify consent requirements and clarify that surveying does not create a legal claim for the landowner beyond claims for negligence or misconduct.

Maddy summaryHB 1398 amends a section of North Dakota's Century Code to update the procedural requirements for publishing an abstract of an annual statement. This procedural change affects entities required to submit annual statements (such as state agencies or regulated organizations), altering how their abstracts must be published. The bill does not change the content of the annual statements themselves but revises the publication process for compliance. It is a technical update to administrative procedures, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHCR 3010 is a procedural resolution directing North Dakota's Legislative Management to study whether lawmakers should routinely review existing state and federal laws before drafting new legislation. It specifically aims to prevent duplication of current laws and assess how new proposals might interact with existing regulations. The resolution requires Legislative Management to report findings and any necessary legislation to the next legislative session. This bill does not create new law but directs an internal review process for future lawmaking. The resolution failed to pass during its second reading on April 9, 2025.

Relating to the acceptance of health care sharing ministries by an institution of higher education and health care sharing ministries' exemptions from insurance laws and regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1220 would establish a new "North Dakota accelerated degree" program for high-demand occupations within the state's education code. This program would allow students to earn credentials more quickly in fields with significant workforce needs, directly benefiting students seeking faster entry into these careers. The key mechanism is creating a new section in North Dakota's Century Code (Chapter 15-10) to formally authorize and structure these accelerated pathways. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to streamline education-to-employment for specific high-demand occupations.