Sen. Richard Marcellais

Maddy summaryHB 1403 designates the third Friday in September each year as "Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Day" in North Dakota. The bill requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing this day to honor military personnel held captive or missing in action. It specifically clarifies that this designation does not mandate school or business closures, as it is a ceremonial observance, not a mandated holiday. The bill was signed into law by the governor on March 14, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1569 requires North Dakota public school districts to provide sex trafficking awareness and prevention instruction to all students at least once before graduating high school, starting in the 2027-28 school year. The bill mandates that curriculum must cover victim demographics, accurate definitions of trafficking, reporting systems, risk identification, and recognizing grooming signs, while including medically and legally accurate information. School districts must use curriculum approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the instruction may be integrated into existing courses starting in grade seven. The bill directly affects all K-12 students and school districts in North Dakota through mandatory curriculum implementation.

Maddy summarySB 2376 amends North Dakota law to specifically authorize gaming operations on three defined parcels of land in Grand Forks County under the existing tribal-state compact with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. The bill lists precise land descriptions (south five and one-half acres, west ninety-six acres, and north fifty-eight and one-half acres of specific sections) where gaming may occur, provided the Secretary of the Interior approves under federal law. This is a technical amendment to clarify permitted locations within the existing compact, not a new policy. The bill failed to pass in the legislature on February 14, 2025, with 15 votes in favor and 29 against.

Maddy summaryHB 1553 requires all North Dakota public and nonpublic schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student, eliminating meal debt restrictions that previously barred students with unpaid balances from meals or activities. It prohibits schools from stigmatizing students based on meal payment status (e.g., using tokens or public lists) or denying participation in school activities due to meal debt. The bill appropriates $140 million from the legacy earnings fund to the Department of Public Instruction for school meal grants, covering the 2025-2027 biennium. This policy directly affects all K-12 students and schools receiving state meal funding, ensuring universal access to meals without financial barriers.

Maddy summarySB 2343 prohibits beekeepers from placing hives within 0.5 miles of state or federal highways in North Dakota. It requires the agriculture commissioner to investigate complaints, direct beekeepers to remove hives within 48 hours if violations are confirmed, and confiscate equipment if not removed or if the beekeeper is unknown. Beekeepers would be responsible for all enforcement costs. The bill directly affects commercial and hobbyist beekeepers operating near highways.

Relating to establishing a grant program for the education of nonbeneficiary students attending tribally controlled schools; and to amend and reenact section 54‑40.2‑02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to authorization for public agencies and tribes to enter an agreement.

Maddy summarySB 2345 would have provided permanent North Dakota state employees with a 4% pay raise each year during the 2025-27 biennium, effective July 2025 (paid August 2025) and July 2026 (paid August 2026). The bill directly affected all eligible permanent state employees by adjusting their base compensation annually. It required no new funding mechanisms beyond existing appropriations, as the increases were tied to the biennial budget cycle. The bill failed to pass the legislature on February 7, 2025, with 6 votes in favor and 41 against.

Maddy summaryHB 1521 would exempt enrolled members of federally recognized North Dakota tribes residing on tribal reservations from the state's motor vehicle excise tax. To qualify, individuals must provide proof of tribal enrollment and live within reservation boundaries (primary residence on reservation is required). The exemption applies retroactively to vehicle purchases after June 30, 2023, and the bill declares an emergency. This change directly affects tribal members living on reservations by removing a state tax on their vehicles.

Maddy summarySB 2283 requires agricultural landowners to notify water resource boards and downstream neighbors before installing subsurface drainage systems covering less than 80 acres. It mandates specific installation standards (like 25-foot setbacks from drains, erosion controls, and pump shutdowns during floods) and creates a 30-day objection period for neighbors. If objections are filed, the system owner must apply for a permit; otherwise, mediation is required before lawsuits over drainage damage can proceed. Violations would be punishable as infractions. The bill applies only to agricultural drainage systems and excludes privately owned water bodies.

Relating to a partial property tax exemption for residential property used for in‑home care services for a qualifying individual; and to provide an effective date.