Bill
HB 1568
Creates the North Dakota Ireland Trade Commission to boost bilateral trade/investment with Ireland, staffed by lawmakers, trade office leaders, and an expert; sunset July 31, 2029.
Status
- Introduced: December 10, 2024
- Final recorded action in provided materials: Second reading, failed to pass (yeas 18 — nays 26).
- Note: The packet included several unrelated bills titled “HB 1568” from other states; this summary addresses the North Dakota proposal to create a North Dakota Ireland trade commission.
Purpose / Intent
- Establish a formal, state-level commission to advance and coordinate bilateral trade and investment between North Dakota and Ireland, foster business and academic exchanges, and promote mutually beneficial economic and infrastructure investment.
Key provisions
- Creation: Adds a new chapter to Title 54 of the North Dakota Century Code establishing the “North Dakota Ireland trade commission.”
- Duties: The commission shall:
- Advance bilateral trade and investment between North Dakota and Ireland;
- Initiate joint actions on issues of mutual interest;
- Promote business and academic exchanges;
- Encourage mutual economic support and infrastructure investment;
- Address other mutually beneficial issues.
- Membership (proposed composition as amended):
- Two state senators (appointed by the senate majority leader);
- Two state representatives (appointed by the house majority leader);
- The executive director of the North Dakota Trade Office;
- One private individual knowledgeable/interested in international trade (appointed by the Trade Office executive director);
- The agriculture commissioner (or designee).
- Terms and leadership:
- Appointed members serve two-year terms; vacancies are filled in the same manner as original appointments.
- At the initial meeting and annually thereafter, members choose one of the four appointed legislators to serve as chair.
- Administration, meetings, reimbursement:
- The North Dakota Trade Office provides administrative support.
- The commission meets two to four times per year, as called by the chair.
- Members may be reimbursed for necessary expenses at the legislative member rate under NDCC §54‑03‑20(1), upon request.
- Reporting:
- Annual report due to Legislative Management on or before September 1 each year, including:
1. Description of the commission’s work;
2. Description of benefits to the state and trade sectors attributable to the commission;
3. Recommendations for legislation supporting trade with Ireland;
4. A summary of anticipated activities for the following year.
- Sunset/Expiration:
- The act (if enacted) would be effective through July 31, 2029; it would be ineffective after that date.
Who would be affected / potential impact
- State agencies: North Dakota Trade Office (administration) and Agriculture Commissioner (participation).
- Elected legislators: four legislative appointees would serve on the commission and may incur travel/meeting expenses.
- Businesses, academic institutions, and trade sectors: intended beneficiaries through promotion of trade, investment, and partnerships with Ireland.
- Policy implications: could generate recommendations for legislative or budgetary support for international trade initiatives; may require modest administrative resources from the Trade Office and expense reimbursements for members.
Procedural notes / variations
- Committee report language amended appointing authorities (references to president pro tempore and speaker were changed to majority leaders in one proposed amendment).
- Despite enactment language and report structure in draft text, the bill did not advance beyond the second reading in the record you provided (failed to pass 18–26).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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