North Dakota House advances voting-access, liability and school measures; rejects deep-fake criminal prohibition

BISMARCK — The North Dakota House of Representatives on Jan. 22 moved a slate of bills affecting voting access for newly eligible students, statutory liability caps, school milk service and workforce outreach for the Game and Fish Department, and clarified excavation-notice rules — and rejected a proposal to criminalize certain deep-fake images and videos.

The chamber approved House Bill 1178 to allow school districts to establish policies letting 18- and 19-year-old students leave campus to vote in person during the school day. "The bill is about civic engagement," Representative Hager said, arguing the change would help students who otherwise might be marked absent or be unable to reach polling places because of extracurricular commitments. The measure passed on final vote, 86 ayes, 1 nay.

The session also approved House Bill 1142, which amends sections of the North Dakota Century Code to raise statutory liability caps for the state and political subdivisions. Representative Davis said the bill would raise per-person and per-occurrence limits by 2026 to reflect increased costs and provide "fair recourse" for those harmed while maintaining protections for taxpayers. Final passage was 86 ayes, 1 nay.

Lawmakers unanimously approved House Bill 1174, authorizing the North Dakota Game and Fish Department to create education and community-outreach programs,…