Sen. Richard Marcellais

Relating to the collection of data on missing persons and the missing indigenous people task force; to amend and reenact section 54‑12‑34 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the criminal justice data information sharing system; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide an appropriation; to provide a continuing appropriation; to provide for a transfer; to provide an expiration date; and to declare an emergency.

Relating to critical minerals and rare earth minerals and royalties; to amend and reenact sections 38‑12‑01 and 47‑10‑24 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the definitions of critical minerals and rare earth minerals and descriptions and definitions of minerals in leases and conveyances; and to provide for retroactive application.

Maddy summaryHB 1260 requires that 15% of mule deer licenses available for the regular gun season in the previous year must be reserved for nonresident hunters using bows. This law directly affects nonresident hunters seeking to hunt mule deer in North Dakota with bow and arrow equipment. The key provision mandates this specific reservation percentage for mule deer licenses, applying to the licenses made available for the regular gun season. The bill amends North Dakota Century Code section 20.1-03-11 to implement this change, which was signed into law in April 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1545 would change the name of "First Nations Day" to "Indigenous Peoples Day" in North Dakota's state code (section 1-03-13 of the Century Code). This is a procedural bill that updates the official designation of an existing state observance. The change directly affects how the holiday is referenced in state law and official communications. It does not alter any policy, funding, or legal obligations related to the observance.

Maddy summaryHB 1455 requires the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission to review any introduced bill that may impact tribal nations or treaty rights before it advances to a committee hearing. This mandates formal tribal consultation as part of the legislative process for affected bills. The bill directly affects all North Dakota legislators introducing bills related to tribal affairs, lands, or treaty obligations. It creates a procedural step to ensure tribal perspectives are considered early in lawmaking. This is a procedural requirement, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1504 amends North Dakota's veterans' postwar trust fund to clarify its permanent status and management. It requires all investment income from the fund to be used exclusively for veteran programs or services, with funds automatically appropriated to the veterans' affairs committee for the following biennium. The bill adds a new provision allowing veterans' organizations (as defined in state law) to donate funds specifically for programs preventing and eliminating veteran homelessness. These changes ensure the fund's resources directly support veterans' needs through established administrative channels.

Maddy summarySB 2207 amends North Dakota law to explicitly include federally recognized tribal governments within state reservations in the exemption from motor vehicle excise tax. This change directly affects tribal governments operating vehicles on their reservations, ensuring vehicles owned or procured by them are exempt from the tax. The bill expands an existing exemption previously covering state/federal entities to specifically include tribal governments. It takes effect for taxable events after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1563 is a procedural bill that establishes a legislative study on tribal land taxation in North Dakota. It directs the state's legislative management to analyze issues related to taxing land owned by enrolled tribal members living within tribal reservations, including federal law, court decisions, state property tax exemptions for Native Americans, and tribal sovereignty conflicts. The study, to be completed during the 2025-26 interim, will examine how state and tribal tax authority interact and report findings with policy recommendations to the 70th Legislative Assembly. This bill does not change current tax laws but creates a formal process to review existing policies affecting tribal members and reservations.

Maddy summaryHB 1252 creates a dedicated tribal health care coordination fund in North Dakota's state treasury, providing ongoing state funding to tribal governments for public health services. Funds are distributed based on each tribe's federal care coordination funding, with strict requirements: tribes must use funds for core public health services (limiting capital construction to 50% until 2027, then 35%), submit annual reports, and undergo biennial independent audits. The state department of health withholds funds for missing reports or improper use, and can restore distributions once compliance is verified. This bill directly affects North Dakota's tribal nations by establishing formalized, accountable funding for health programs aligned with federal public health priorities.

Maddy summaryHCR 3005 is a North Dakota legislative resolution urging the 119th U.S. Congress to add the names of 74 U.S. Navy sailors who died when the USS Frank E. Evans collided with an Australian ship in 1969 to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. It specifically requests Congress amend memorial inclusion criteria to recognize these sailors, who were on combat support missions in the South China Sea during Operation Sea Spirit. The resolution cites evidence showing the ship was engaged in combat support operations, aligning with eligibility under Title 38 of the U.S. Code. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change federal law but formally requests congressional action to honor the sailors, including two from North Dakota (Patrick Glennon and Robert Seale).