relative to third-party code review and inspection services for building permits.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Sweeney

HB 1271 would exempt certain real estate transfers from requiring a statement of full consideration, narrowing when the rule applies.

Refer for Interim Study: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 4

Main purpose

HB 1271 would amend and reenact subsection 6 of section 11‑18‑02.2 of the North Dakota Century Code to clarify and list categories of property transfers and transactions that are exempt from the statutory requirement to provide a “statement of full consideration” with a deed. In short, it narrows/clarifies when the statement of full consideration is not required.

Key provisions

Revises subsection 6 of NDCC § 11‑18‑02.2 to state that the section (requiring statements of full consideration) does not apply to deeds transferring title for the following categories:

Property owned or used by public utilities.
Property classified as personal property.
Sales where grantor and grantee are of the same family or corporate affiliate.
Sales that result from settlement of an estate.
Forced sales, mortgage foreclosures, and tax sales.
Sales to or from religious, charitable, or nonprofit organizations.
Sales indicating a change of use by the new owner.
Transfers by quitclaim deed used to correct a title defect.
Sales of property not assessable by law.
Agricultural land parcels of less than eighty acres (listed also as 32.37 hectares).

The amendment is presented as a reenactment of subsection 6 (i.e., replaces the existing subsection with the clarified list).

Who would be affected

Grantors and grantees in the enumerated transaction categories (including families, corporate affiliates, estates, nonprofits, public utilities, and transfers by quitclaim).

Title companies, closing agents, and lenders who prepare deed paperwork and statements of consideration.

County recorders and assessors, who use deed information for property records and taxation.

Real estate attorneys and brokers involved in affected transactions.

Owners/transferees of smaller agricultural parcels (under 80 acres) would be explicitly exempted from providing the statement.

Procedural status and timeline

Introduced: November 13, 2024 (House Bill No. 1271).

Sponsors: Representatives Grueneich, K. Anderson, Berg, Dockter, Meier, Murphy; Senators Conley, Meyer (listed as introducers).

Read first time: March 10, 2025; referred to Criminal Jurisprudence (per provided timeline).

Status (as provided): Second reading — failed to pass (yeas 7, nays 80). Because it did not pass the second reading, it did not advance to final enactment.

Practical implications / considerations

If enacted, HB 1271 would reduce paperwork and filing obligations for a range of transfers by eliminating the need for a statement of full consideration in common, administratively burdensome situations (e.g., intra‑family transfers, foreclosures, small‑acreage farm transfers, nonprofit conveyances).

It could reduce the amount of consideration data available to assessors and public records for the exempted transactions; counties and title professionals may see modest administrative impacts.

Because the bill (per the provided status) failed on second reading, it currently has no legal effect.

Bill