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HB 1236

Revenue and taxation; sales tax; motor vehicle; exemptions subject to other tax; effective date; emergency.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Bullard and 1 co-sponsor

Prohibits using hunting/fishing license and application fee proceeds for chronic wasting disease (CWD) activities; funds must support non-CWD department programs and administration

Referred to Appropriations and Budget Finance Subcommittee
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Bill Summary · HB 1236

Summary — HB 1236 (North Dakota)

A bill to amend and reenact NDCC § 20.1‑02‑17 (use of hunting license and permit application fees)

Note on sources: Several unrelated bills from other states also use the number “HB 1236” in the materials provided. This summary addresses the North Dakota version introduced Nov. 12, 2024 (text amending NDCC 20.1‑02‑17).

Main purpose

To restrict how revenues from hunting and fishing licenses and application fees may be used by state wildlife authorities — specifically, to forbid use of those receipts for activities related to chronic wasting disease (CWD).

Key statutory change

Amends ND Century Code § 20.1‑02‑17(2) to read (as inserted in the bill):

  • “Hunting and fishing license fees and application fees assessed under section 20.1‑03‑12.2 may only be used only for departmental programs and administration unrelated to chronic wasting disease.”

In short: license and application fee proceeds may be used for departmental programs and administration, but not for CWD‑related work.

Who is affected

  • North Dakota Game and Fish Department (or equivalent department) — restricts a specific funding source for departmental activities.
  • Hunters and anglers — the fees they pay would remain collected but would be statutorily prohibited from supporting CWD activities.
  • State budget/appropriations process — CWD surveillance, testing, control, research, and response activities would need funding from sources other than these license/application fees (e.g., general fund appropriations, federal grants, dedicated CWD accounts if any).

Likely impacts and considerations

  • Operational impact: The department may have to reallocate existing fee revenues to other non‑CWD programs and seek alternate funding for CWD response (surveillance, testing, carcass disposal, outreach, research, containment measures). This could slow or complicate CWD management unless other funds are made available.
  • Fiscal impact: The bill does not itself appropriate funds. If CWD activities must shift to the general fund or to new appropriations, there could be fiscal pressure on the state budget. No fiscal note appears in the ND bill text provided.
  • Policy/management tradeoffs: Prohibiting use of license dollars for CWD may be intended to preserve fee revenue for traditional fish and wildlife programs, but it risks underfunding disease control unless the Legislature provides an alternative funding mechanism.

Procedural status (as provided)

  • Introduced: November 12, 2024
  • Sponsors (as listed in ND text): Representatives Tveit, Hauck; Senators Enget, Thomas
  • User‑reported status: Second reading — failed to pass (yeas 27, nays 63).
    (If enacted status is required, confirm with the official North Dakota legislative records — the provided materials include actions from multiple states and may contain conflicting entries.)

Legal effect

If enacted, amends NDCC § 20.1‑02‑17 to impose a statutory prohibition on using hunting/fishing license and application fee proceeds for any CWD‑related departmental programs or administration.

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

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