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HB 1175

Nutrient Management - Tidal Buffer - Vegetative Buffers and Restriction on Fertilizer Application

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dana Stein

Updates ND Uniform State Laws Commission governance: clarified eligibility, terms, appointments, duties, reporting, and reimbursement rules.

Hearing 2/28 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 1175

HB 1175 — North Dakota Commission on Uniform State Laws

Status: Enacted (filed with Secretary of State 03/24/2025)
Primary change: Amend & reenact ND Century Code §§ 54‑55‑01, 54‑55‑03, 54‑55‑04, 54‑55‑05

Main purpose

To update membership, organization, duties, and reimbursement rules for North Dakota’s Commission on Uniform State Laws (the state entity that participates in the national uniform laws process) and to clarify eligibility and appointment procedures for commissioners.

Key provisions / changes

  • Sections amended: 54‑55‑01 (membership), 54‑55‑03 (meeting & organization), 54‑55‑04 (duties), 54‑55‑05 (compensation & reimbursement).
  • Membership (54‑55‑01):
    • Specifies commission composition to include: an attorney engaged in practice in ND; the dean or a full‑time UND law faculty member; a law‑trained judge of a court of record; one member each from the House and Senate; and a member of the Legislative Council.
    • Attorney General may appoint a member.
    • Continues inclusion of residents who are life members of the national commission and prior five‑year appointees.
    • Requires commissioners (other than certain exceptions noted) to be appointed by the governor to four‑year terms beginning September 1 following each presidential election.
    • Adds explicit residency and eligibility requirements: all commissioners must be state residents (except national life members); to be eligible a person must be a licensed attorney in good standing at time of first appointment.
    • Attorney‑general appointee’s term cannot extend beyond that AG’s term.
    • If a legislator is ineligible to serve, Legislative Management may appoint an eligible individual in their stead.
  • Organization & meetings (54‑55‑03):
    • Commission must meet at least once every two years.
    • Officers: chairman, vice chairman, and secretary; officers serve two‑year terms.
  • Duties (54‑55‑04):
    • Commissioners expected to attend the national conference annual meeting.
    • Promote uniform state laws and uniform judicial application/construction.
    • May submit recommended uniform/model laws to Legislative Management during interims and must assist Legislative Management as requested.
    • Must report to the Legislative Assembly each biennial session with an account of transactions and legislative recommendations (including Legislative Management’s recommendations).
  • Compensation & reimbursements (54‑55‑05):
    • Commissioners serve without compensation (except for legislative members as governed by § 54‑03‑20).
    • Appointed commissioners and national life members (with certain limited exceptions) are entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses from appropriated funds at rates set in §§ 44‑08‑04 and 54‑06‑09.
    • Expense warrant‑checks prepared by Office of Management & Budget upon vouchers submitted.

Who is affected

  • Current and prospective members of the Commission on Uniform State Laws (lawyers, judges, legislative appointees, AG appointee).
  • Legislative Management and the Legislative Assembly (receive and review commission recommendations).
  • State budget/appropriations (administration of expense reimbursements).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Appointment terms commence on September 1.
  • Commission must meet at least once every two years and report at each biennial legislative session.
  • Enactment: Passed both chambers with unanimous/near‑unanimous votes (House 93‑0; Senate 47‑0) and signed by the Governor (filed with Secretary of State 03/24/2025).

This bill modernizes statutory governance of North Dakota’s uniform laws commission by tightening eligibility, clarifying appointment and term rules, restating duties and reporting obligations, and preserving expense reimbursement procedures.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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