North Dakota Senate passes a package of bills on water, courts, veterans and energy; foreign-ownership measure fails

The North Dakota Senate on Monday approved a series of bills covering water-course determinations, court-fee changes, veterans’ business credits, public hearing procedures for energy projects and other measures, while voting down a contentious bill on foreign ownership reporting and restrictions.

The package included unanimous passage of several committee-backed bills and narrower votes on others. The most contested measure, Senate Bill 2026 — addressing filings and prohibitions related to foreign persons and entities owning or developing North Dakota property and businesses — failed 23–24 after extended debate about implementation, costs and potential litigation.

Senator Kessel, speaking for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Senate Bill 2044, said the bill “provides an important clarification and process improvements to our state's water course determination procedures,” including a state-level review and an appeal path to section 61-03-22 of the North Dakota Century Code. The Senate passed SB 2044, 47–0.

Supporters described the session’s other measures as technical fixes or targeted policy changes. Senator Klein said Senate Bill 2046, which grants a $250 workers-compensation premium credit for National Guard members, veterans and their spouses and permits certain electronic decision notices from the Workers' Safety and Insurance office, was “another opportunity to help and support our military and veterans here in North Dakota.” The bill passed, 47–0.

Senate Bill 2057, which raises and modernizes a broad set of court fees (many roughly doubling from longstanding levels), drew more debate; sponsor Senator Brownberger said fee increases were calculated using…