A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 48-01.2-01 and 48-01.2-02.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the definition of a pre-engineered structure and the threshold for procuring plans, drawings, and specifications from an architect or engineer for construction of a public improvement.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Mike Beltz and 9 co-sponsors

HB 1445 requires DHCD to publish a fact sheet on post-death home ownership (tangled title) and forces funeral homes to give it to immediate family or decedent's representatives.

Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 9 nays 82

Summary — HB 1445: Licensed Funeral Establishments — Fact Sheet on Real Property Ownership

Status / Key Dates
- Bill creates a new requirement in Maryland law (adds Art. — Health Occupations § 7‑407.1).
- Effective date in bill text and fiscal analysis: June 1, 2025.
- Fiscal note (Department of Legislative Services): requirements can be met with existing resources; minimal state and small‑business fiscal impact.

Purpose and intent
- To help families and representatives of deceased homeowners understand legal issues that can arise with residential real property after a homeowner’s death (commonly called a “tangled title”) and to connect them with resources to address those issues, particularly low‑income individuals who need free or low‑cost probate and estate administration help.

Major provisions
1. DHCD fact sheet
- The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) must develop and publish on its website a fact sheet that:
- Explains legal issues related to deeds, heirs, and ownership of residential real property after a homeowner’s death (tangled title).
- Describes how an individual can address those legal issues.
- Lists legal resources and free or low‑cost services available to low‑income people for probate law and estate administration.
- The fact sheet must be available in a printable format and updated as needed.

Funeral establishment duty to distribute

During the course of providing funeral services, any licensed funeral establishment must give a printed copy of the DHCD fact sheet to either:
- The immediate family members of the deceased (defined to include spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, grandchild, stepparent, stepchild, stepsibling), or
- The authorized representative of the decedent.

Who is affected
- State agency: DHCD — responsible for preparing, publishing, and maintaining the fact sheet.
- Licensed funeral establishments — required to provide a printed fact sheet to family/representatives during funeral services (minor operational step).
- Immediate family members / authorized representatives of deceased homeowners — primary recipients and intended beneficiaries.
- Low‑income individuals potentially facing tangled‑title or probate issues — intended to gain access to information and resources.

Fiscal and practical impact
- State: fiscal note indicates DHCD can carry out duties with existing resources; no revenue impact.
- Funeral homes: minimal, primarily the cost of printing and minute administrative time to hand out the sheet. The law is intended as an informational consumer‑protection measure rather than imposing licensing or procedural burdens.

Notes
- The bill is informational and facilitative; it does not create new probate procedures, change substantive property law, or mandate legal representation. The fact sheet is meant to guide families to existing legal channels and resources.