Insight #37

Mar 14, 2025

Legislative Overview ~ March 14, 2025

In today’s legislative session, both chambers took a break from business-focused legislation and instead the House turned their attention to a contentious issue in the legal world: judicial deference.  The Senate had previously passed a bill addressing judicial deference with unanimous support. However, when the matter reached the House floor today, it sparked a lengthy and heated debate. At the heart of the controversy is the question of how much weight judges should give to various sources of authority when making decisions. The House’s stance appears to diverge from the Senate’s view, with the prevailing Representatives (in our opinion) arguing that:
1.  Judges can give preference to Administrative Rules
2.  This deference can take precedence over both statutory law and individual rights

Ask your Representative for a thorough explanation, as it was a heated debate on SB2285.

Here’s a summary of what took place during today’s floor sessions:

5 Bills Passed in the Senate and awaiting Governor’s Signature:                                                                                    HB1139, HB1142, HB1147, HB1155, & SB2242 + HCR3006, HCR3009, HCR3015, HCR2016, HCR3017 & HCR3019.   Those that failed include: HB1497

5 Bills Passed in the House and awaiting Governor’s Signature:                                                                                    SB2064, SB2098, SB2123, SB2167, & SB2291.  Those that failed include: SB2285.

There were no Bills today that we are tracking regarding the business world.

 

~As the 69th Legislative Session of North Dakota continues, it’s crucial for business owners and managers to remain vigilant in monitoring proposed legislation and voting patterns of their senators and representatives. Staying informed about legislative changes is not just a matter of compliance but essential for maintaining your business’s integrity and operational efficiency. The decisions made during this session can have far-reaching impacts on various aspects of your business, from regulatory compliance to operational costs. NDBU is committed to helping you navigate these changes by providing ongoing summaries and updates throughout the remainder of the session. By staying engaged and informed, you can better anticipate and adapt to new requirements, ensuring your business remains compliant and competitive in an ever-evolving legislative landscape.  If there is additional information you believe would be (business-minded) helpful that you’re not seeing here, please reach out below.  Let’s keep the conversation open & ongoing!

Jan Wangler, Executive Director