North Dakota House advances mix of measures on courts, agriculture and health; several items fail

BISMARCK, N.D. — On March 25, 2025, the North Dakota House of Representatives considered and voted on a series of bills affecting court fees, medical cannabis rules, animal-agriculture setbacks, and other policy areas, approving the majority and rejecting several controversial proposals.

The largest revenue and operational changes approved included a revision to court filing fees intended to raise state revenue, new rules allowing certain cannabinoid edible products for medical marijuana cardholders, and a voluntary “odor footprint” modeling tool for siting animal feeding operations. Lawmakers also approved funding to cover medical screening and forensic exams for sexual-assault victims and authorized legislative review of federal block grants outside the regular session. Not all measures passed: a bill to allow public disclosure of pending insurance department complaints failed, and a proposal to let townships unilaterally reclaim zoning authority also failed on the floor.

Votes at a glance:

- Senate Bill 2169 — Final passage declared. Vote: 85 yea, 4 nay. (Text of bill not specified on the record excerpt.)

- Senate Bill 2294 — Allows manufacture and sale of certain cannabinoid edible products to medical marijuana cardholders; sets a maximum of 5 mg THC per lozenge, 50 mg per package, possession limit 250 mg and a $40 registration fee valid for two years. Provides a temporary 60-day pathway for qualifying nonresident patients moving to North Dakota. Passed final passage on the floor. Vote: 58 yea, 31 nay.

- Senate Bill 2057 — Amends court fees in multiple code sections; fiscal note projects additional general-fund revenues of approximately $2.996 million in 2025–27 and $3.1 million in 2027–29…