Senate committee hears rewrite of municipal court law, debates court-of-record and judge qualifications

The North Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1032, a proposed rewrite of state law governing municipal courts that would create a new Chapter 40‑18.1, clarify when municipal ordinance cases may be transferred to district court and set new procedural and oversight requirements, presenters said.

Supporters told the committee the bill is the result of an interim study and a multi‑party drafting effort that aimed to reorganize and clarify existing law. "House Bill 10 32 is the result of a study of municipal courts," said Stephanie Ingebretsen, appearing for the North Dakota League of Cities. Sarah Behrens, a staff attorney with the State Court Administrator's Office, described the measure as "a compromised bill" and urged the committee to give it a due‑pass recommendation.

The bill would: allow district court jurisdiction for municipal ordinance violations in cities with fewer than 5,000 residents (and in cities that have entered…