All Roll Calls
Yes: 226 • No: 1
North DakotaHB 10322025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 27-05-06 and chapter 40-18.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to jurisdiction of district courts and municipal court requirements, jurisdiction, procedures, and processes; to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 29-07-01.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to indigent defense; and to repeal sections 40-11-10, 40-11-11, 40-11-12, and 40-11-13 and chapter 40-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to ordinance violations and municipal judges.
Sponsored By: Legislative Management
Signed by Governor
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Cities fund lawyers for low-income defendants
Cities must pay judge-approved expenses needed to defend people who cannot afford a lawyer in city ordinance cases. Coverage includes specified district court transfers, municipal court appeals, and appeals or postconviction challenges to city ordinance convictions. In proceedings about fitness to stand trial or criminal responsibility, cities must provide prosecutors and defense lawyers for indigent defendants. Cities can contract with a county, the state, or another person for those legal services.
City court records shape defendants' appeals
Beginning July 1, 2026, municipal courts become courts of record. Appeals to district court proceed using the municipal court record. District courts can uphold, reverse, or change decisions, or order further proceedings.
City courts cannot hear certain cases
Municipal courts cannot hear domestic violence cases or criminal cases against juveniles. They cannot hear city DUI cases involving two qualifying prior convictions within seven years or three within 15 years. Those repeat-offense cases must be dismissed and referred to county or state prosecutors. Municipal judges who are not licensed North Dakota lawyers cannot hear DUI cases. Noncriminal cases against juveniles are allowed only when juvenile court does not have exclusive authority.
City courts face limits on fees
Municipal courts cannot charge costs or fees unless the new municipal court chapter specifically allows them. Authorized city fees remain allowed, and the crime victim and witness program fee is required. Court administration and community service supervision fees cannot exceed state-law limits. Courts must list fines and fees separately in the judgment.
Cities can share or shift courts
Cities can establish municipal courts by ordinance or resolution, but must provide elected judges, facilities, supplies, technology, and support staff. They must also post court schedules publicly. Cities can create joint courts or share court space, equipment, supplies, and staff, filing agreements with the state court administrator. Without a termination rule, a participating city can end the agreement with at least 30 days' notice to the governing bodies. District courts can hear ordinance cases from cities under 5,000 residents without a municipal court or judge, or under authorized transfer agreements.
Cities must fund licensed court prosecutors
A licensed North Dakota prosecutor must attend every contested municipal court hearing or proceeding involving a class B misdemeanor. Cities must pay prosecutors' compensation and necessary expenses for prosecuting city ordinance violations.
City judges face qualifications and oversight
Municipal judges serve elected four-year terms, cannot hold another office in their city, and receive compensation set by the city. In cities with at least 5,000 residents, judges must be licensed North Dakota lawyers and residents unless residency is waived. Judges in smaller cities need not be lawyers or city residents. Judges and alternates must follow state Supreme Court rules; the Judicial Conduct Commission can bar noncompliant judges from presiding. Cities must reimburse necessary travel, meals, and lodging tied to required qualifications, conduct, and education.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Legislative Management
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/17/2025
Second reading, passed, yeas 92 nays 0
Yes: 92 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/7/2025
Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 46 nays 1
Yes: 46 • No: 1
House vote • 1/20/2025
Second reading, passed, yeas 88 nays 0
Yes: 88 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Filed with Secretary Of State 04/23
4/25/2025HouseSigned by Governor 04/23
4/24/2025HouseSent to Governor
4/22/2025HouseSigned by Speaker
4/22/2025HouseSigned by President
4/21/2025SenateSecond reading, passed, yeas 92 nays 0
4/17/2025HouseConcurred
4/17/2025HouseReturned to House (12)
4/8/2025HouseSecond reading, passed as amended, yeas 46 nays 1
4/7/2025SenateAmendment adopted, placed on calendar
4/7/2025SenateReported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 7 0 0
4/4/2025SenateCommittee Hearing 03:00
2/17/2025SenateIntroduced, first reading, referred Judiciary Committee
2/5/2025SenateReceived from House
1/21/2025SenateSecond reading, passed, yeas 88 nays 0
1/20/2025HouseAmendment adopted, placed on calendar
1/17/2025HouseReported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 12 0 1
1/16/2025HouseCommittee Hearing 10:05
1/9/2025HouseIntroduced, first reading, referred Political Subdivisions Committee
1/7/2025House
Bill Text
Adopted by the House Political Subdivisions Committee
Adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee
Enrollment
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
FIRST ENGROSSMENT with Senate Amendments
INTRODUCED
Related Bills
SB 2390, AN ACT to create and enact three new sections to chapter 54-40.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a rural catalyst committee, grant program, and fund; to amend and reenact section 54-40.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to definitions for regional planning councils; to provide an appropriation; and to provide for a transfer.
HB 1298, AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 39-06.1-06, 39-09-02, 39-09-04, and 39-09-07.1, and subsection 2 of section 40-05-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the amount of statutory fees, speed limitations on multilane highways, variable speed limits, alteration of maximum speed limits on state highways, speed zone reduction limitations, and city fines and penalties; to provide for a legislative management report; and to provide a penalty.
HB 1229, AN ACT to create and enact a new subdivision to subsection 2 of section 39-06.1-06 and section 39-10-71.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to statutory fees for traffic offenses and a motor vehicle owner's responsibility regarding a driver who flees a peace officer; and to provide a penalty.
SB 2113, AN ACT to create and enact two new sections to chapter 50-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to certified community behavioral health clinics and the financing of health and human services; to amend and reenact section 12.1-04-06, subsection 4 of section 20.1-03-04, sections 25-03.1-03.1 and 25-03.1-04, subsection 3 of section 25-03.1-08, section 25-03.1-10, subsection 3 of section 25-03.1-11, subsection 1 of section 25-03.1-19, subsection 2 of section 25-03.1-26, subdivision b of subsection 2 of section 26.1-36-08, subdivisions c and d of subsection 2 of section 26.1-36-09, subsection 9 of section 43-12.1-04, subsection 6 of section 43-41-02, subdivision b of subsection 1 of section 44-04-18.30, sections 50-06-01, 50-06-01.4, 50-06-01.7, 50-06-05.1, 50-06-05.2, 50-06-05.3, 50-06-05.4, 50-06-05.5, 50-06-06.2, 50-06-06.5, and 50-06-06.13, subsections 1 and 3 of section 50-06-15, sections 50-06-33 and 50-06-41.3, subsection 1 of section 50-06-42, subsection 1 of section 50-06-42.1, and sections 50-06-46, 50-06.2-01, 50-06.2-02, 50-06.2-03, 50-06.3-02, and 50-06.3-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the powers and duties of the department of health and human services, treatment hearing timelines, and membership of the cross-disability advisory council; to provide for a legislative management study; and to provide an expiration date.
SB 2147, AN ACT to create and enact a new subsection to section 15-10-38.4, a new subsection to section 15-62.4-03, a new section to chapter 15-62.4, and a new subsection to section 15-62.5-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to student financial assistance grants, dual-credit tuition scholarships, and the scholars program; to amend and reenact sections 15-10-38.1, 15-10-38.2, 15-63-05, and 15.1-21-02.6 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the skilled workforce student loan repayment and scholarship programs, Native American scholarships, and the North Dakota scholarship; and to provide an appropriation.
SB 2018, AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the department of commerce; to provide an appropriation to the attorney general; to provide an appropriation to the department of career and technical education; to provide an appropriation to the state fair association; to provide a contingent appropriation; to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-60 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to department of commerce grant reporting requirements; to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 10-30.5-02, sections 54-60-09, 54-60-19, 54-60-28, 54-60-29, 54-60-29.1, and 54-60-31 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the purpose of the North Dakota development fund, duties and talent strategy of the division of workforce development, the uncrewed aircraft systems program, the uncrewed aircraft systems program fund, the beyond visual line of sight uncrewed aircraft system program, and changing the name of the office of legal immigration to the global talent office; to authorize a Bank of North Dakota line of credit; to provide for a transfer; to provide an application; to provide an exemption; and to provide for a legislative management report.