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 (other-fund increases also listed). Passed final passage on the floor. Vote: 64 yea, 24 nay.

- Senate Bill 2292 — Appropriates funds to pay for medical screening and acute forensic examinations for sexual-assault victims and related forensic interviews performed by Children’s Advocacy Centers. Passed final passage on the floor. Vote: 89 yea, 0 nay.

- Senate Bill 2089 — Would have removed implied confidentiality for complaints received by the Insurance Department and allowed broader disclosure of complaint subject matter and disposition. After floor debate opposing the bill, it failed. Vote: 2 yea, 89 nay (failed).

- Senate Bill 2360 — Directs a legislative management study on the feasibility of geothermal energy development in North Dakota, including potential use of abandoned oil wells. Passed final passage on the floor. Vote: 87 yea, 4 nay.

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 4006 — Urges Congress to establish federal protections for the wild horse herd in Theodore Roosevelt National Park; passed on the floor. Vote: 87 yea, 4 nay.

- Senate Bill 2317 — Would have provided a statutory path for townships to reacquire zoning authority from counties if they meet specified procedural conditions. After extended floor debate, the bill failed. Vote: 42 yea, 49 nay (failed).

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 4001 — Authorizes the budget section of the legislative management to hold required legislative hearings on new or revised federal block grants after the session adjourns (through Sept. 30, 2027). Passed. Vote: 91 yea, 0 nay.

- Senate Bill 2174 — Adds a voluntary “odor footprint” atmospheric-dispersion modeling tool as an optional aid for counties or townships considering setbacks for animal feeding operations; retains existing maximum setbacks and caps the odor-annoyance-free threshold at 94% where the tool is used. Passed. Vote: 66 yea, 25 nay.

- Senate Bill 2092 — Technical cleanup and licensure-date corrections for life-settlement producers and reporting requirements; passed. Vote: 89 yea, 0 nay.

- Senate Bill 2297 — Updates statutory provisions on informed consent for incapacitated adults and minors, clarifies priority of decisionmakers and adds an interdisciplinary team as a last-resort decision body; passed. Vote: 85 yea, 6 nay.

What lawmakers said and why some items were contentious

On SB 2294 (medical-cannabis edibles), Representative Bolinski, reporting the Health and Human Services Committee recommendation, told lawmakers the bill would provide an alternative to inhaled products and said, “Edibles allow for an extended release form of medical cannabis that is safe and pre-measured for our citizens to ingest.” The committee’s changes limited per-lozenge THC and set a $40 two-year registration fee.

SB 2057 (court fees) was presented with the bill’s fiscal note outlining projected general-fund revenue increases of about $3 million in the 2025–27 biennium and roughly $3.1 million in 2027–29. Representative Satrim and the Judiciary Committee recommended passage, saying the bill updates fees that had not changed in decades.

SB 2089 (insurance-complaint disclosure) generated one of the session’s sharpest floor exchanges. Representative Johnson argued against the bill, saying it would “make public each consumer complaint” and risk reputational harm before investigations conclude: “Think innocent until proven guilty,” he said. The Industry, Business and Labor Committee had recommended a do-not-pass; on the floor the chamber rejected the measure 89–2.

SB 2174 (odor-footprint tool for animal feeding operations) prompted extended debate about the science and readiness of a modeling tool. Representative Houck, reporting for the Agriculture Committee, described the tool as an atmospheric-dispersion model that would use decades of North Dakota weather-station data to produce location-specific setback guidance and said the tool is voluntary. Opponents, including Representative Hawley, warned that “there is no instrument that accurately measures odor” and expressed concern that the model remains under development and unverified in ground testing. Supporters said the tool is voluntary, preserves existing setbacks and is intended to provide a more scientific basis for local decisions.

Other notable measures and next steps

- SB 2292 authorizes appropriations to pay for medical screening and acute forensic exams for sexual-assault victims; Human Services and Appropriations committee sponsors emphasized victim-support and asked members for a green vote.

- SCR 4006 asks Congress to provide federal protections for the wild-horse herd in Theodore Roosevelt National Park; sponsors said the resolution would be sent to the Secretary of the Interior and the state’s congressional delegation.

- SB 2317, the township-zoning measure, drew competing testimony about whether state action is needed to restore local township control. Proponents urged that some townships lack practical avenues to regain zoning authority from counties; opponents argued existing procedures suffice and that a statewide statutory override would create uncertainty for development and infrastructure.

The House adjourned to reconvene at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2025.