Sen. Jeff Barta

Maddy summaryHB 1143 allocates $10 million from North Dakota's strategic investment fund to create a grant program for constructing statewide charitable food distribution facilities. The program, active during 2025-2027, provides grants to nonprofits or community groups to cover construction costs (like site acquisition, building, and equipment) for food distribution centers. Recipients must contribute a 1:1 match from nonstate funds and submit annual reports on fund usage and effectiveness. This one-time funding is restricted to facility construction, not operational costs, and directly benefits organizations building infrastructure to support food distribution networks.

Relating to transportation weighted student unit equivalents; to amend and reenact sections 15.1‑31‑05 and 15.1‑27‑31.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to open enrollment transportation; to repeal sections 15.1‑27‑26.1, 15.1‑27‑27.1, 15.1‑27‑28.1, 15.1‑27‑30.1, and 15.1‑27‑31.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to payments for school district transportation of students, special education students, and career and technical education students, the distribution of transportation payments in the event of school district closure, and state transportation payments to school districts; and to provide an effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1524 creates a formal grant program allowing North Dakota's Department of Commerce to fund regional planning councils. The bill directs the department to award grants supporting local implementation of state programs like housing, workforce development, rural economic initiatives, and local food systems, subject to annual legislative funding. These grants can cover program execution, resource development, and efforts to attract public or private investment in communities. The law, signed by the governor in May 2025, directly affects regional planning councils and the local communities they serve.

Maddy summarySB 2297 amends North Dakota law concerning the process for determining if an individual is incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions. The bill also updates the requirements for obtaining informed consent for medical treatment for both incapacitated patients and minors. This legislation directly affects healthcare providers, incapacitated individuals, minors, and their legal guardians or parents by clarifying the procedures for medical decision-making and consent in these situations.

Relating to mandatory arbitration endorsements for property insurance, managed repair programs, civil remedy actions against property insurers, notice of property insurance claims, and surplus lines insurance policies; to amend and reenact sections 26.1‑02‑05, 26.1‑25‑02.1, 26.1‑25‑16, 26.1‑26‑04.1, 26.1‑44‑03, 26.1‑46‑01, 26.1‑46‑08, and 26.1‑46‑08.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to exceptions to unauthorized insurance transactions, exceptions for large commercial risks in fire, property, and casualty insurance rates, surplus lines insurance, risk retention groups and purchasing groups, restrictions on insurance purchased by purchasing groups, and purchasing group taxation and fees; to repeal section 26.1‑44‑03.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to an exemption from search requirements for licensed surplus line producers; to provide for a legislative management report; and to provide a penalty.

Relating to pharmacy benefits managers and a pharmacy benefit manager enforcement fund; to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 26.1‑01‑07, sections 26.1‑27.1-01, 26.1‑27.1‑02, 26.1‑27.1‑04, 26.1‑27.1‑06 and 26.1‑27.1‑07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to pharmacy benefits managers; to repeal section 26.1‑27‑01.1 and chapter 26.1‑36.10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to pharmacy benefits managers and prescription drug costs; to provide a penalty; to provide an appropriation; to provide for a transfer; to provide an effective date; to provide an expiration date; and to declare an emergency.

Maddy summaryHB 1193 appropriates $8.45 million from North Dakota's general fund for a one-time grant program to provide appreciation bonuses to eligible peace and correctional officers. State agencies and local governments (political subdivisions) qualify for reimbursement based on the number of peace officers employed in law enforcement for at least four consecutive years. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation receives direct funding based on its correctional officers' tenure. Funds must be used exclusively to award each eligible officer a salary bonus of up to $6,000 annually, with the Attorney General administering the program in consultation with relevant boards. The program covers the 2025-2027 biennium.

Maddy summarySB 2226 amends existing North Dakota law related to the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents. This commission is responsible for ensuring legal representation for individuals who cannot afford an attorney. The bill provides an appropriation, meaning it allocates funds to support the commission's operations and services. It also establishes an effective date for these changes to take effect.

Relating to prior authorization for health insurance; to provide for a legislative management study; to provide for a legislative management report; and to provide an effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends section 6-09.4-22 of the North Dakota Century Code. It relates to the protection of services under a service agreement for the duration of a loan term. The bill also includes an emergency declaration, meaning it would take effect immediately upon becoming law. *Please note: The provided context does not offer specific details on how the service agreement protection is amended or what the exact mechanisms of this protection are.*