The Senate met in Bismarck April 11 for a lengthy floor session that produced a mix of new law, studies and defeats across public health, education, commerce and technology topics.

A package of bills advanced: lawmakers approved a $10 million one-time state appropriation to help the Great Plains Food Bank build a larger statewide distribution center, approved a broad cosmetology licensing modernization measure, and enacted new rules governing law-enforcement use of robots and unmanned systems. Lawmakers also passed a grant-authority measure allowing the Department of Commerce to fund regional planning councils and advanced several other measures transferring or clarifying state program responsibilities. Several bills failed, including expanded septic-system oversight and a proposal to require additional diagnostic breast screenings at no cost share for PERS plans.

Why it matters: The votes affect state spending priorities, public-health coverage for state employees, licensing and inspection responsibilities for small businesses, and how modern technology may be used by law enforcement. Some outcomes — notably the food‑bank appropriation and robot-use rules — carry direct program or operational effects; others were referred to study, delaying policy choices.

The most consequential items

Great Plains Food Bank: The Senate approved House Bill 11-43 to provide a $10 million one-time appropriation from the Strategic Investments and Improvements Fund to assist the Great Plains Food Bank in Fargo build a new, larger distribution facility. Senator Todd Burkhart, who presented the bill, said the bank serves all 53 counties and has outgrown its current site; the project is backed by a $30.5 million capital campaign with an expected $20 million in private fundraising and a $10 million remaining gap. The bill passed 37-9 with 1 absent.

Cosmetology licensing overhaul: House Bill 11-26, carried by Senator Axman, passed 45-1 with 1 absent. The bill creates new license categories (including an advanced aesthetician category and a legacy/volunteer status), updates apprenticeship pathways, clarifies inspection processes and expands reciprocity for military spouses. Axman said the measure modernizes a 30-page statutory framework and increases board membership to better represent license types.

Robots and law enforcement: House Bill 16-13, led by Senator Castaneda, passed unanimously in the Senate 46-0 (1 absent). The enacted language defines “robot,” “autonomous” and “remote” for law‑enforcement use, requires that any use of lethal force by a robot be initiated by a human operator and adopts document‑and‑policy requirements for agencies that deploy armed or remotely operated robots. "The use of that weapon cannot be autonomous. It has to physically be a human being hitting the button," Castaneda said during floor debate.

Regional planning grants: House Bill 15-24, amended to let the Department of Commerce award grants to regional planning councils to support local implementation of state programs, passed 36-10 with 1 absent. The Senate amendment removed a direct $2.4 million appropriation and instead authorizes Commerce to award such grants, with matching requirements embedded in many underlying programs.

Septic-system oversight defeated: House Bill 15-41, a bill to create a statutory chapter on on-site wastewater systems and reorganize oversight and advisory functions, failed on final passage by a 4-42 vote (1 absent). Sponsors had previously amended the bill to remove creation of an additional committee and to align oversight with companion legislation, but the Senate rejected final passage.

Kratom regulatory proposal: Debate over a bill that would have required the Agriculture Commissioner to develop a regulatory framework for kratom (a botanical product) proved sharply divided. An Appropriations amendment to convert the bill into a study failed on a 21-25 vote. The Senate subsequently laid the measure over one legislative day after further floor debate, pausing immediate action while the chamber considers next steps. Speakers on both sides raised concerns about public-safety risks from adulterated products and the cost of adding state FTEs to regulate sales.

Health benefit mandate rejected: House Bill 12-83, which would have required additional medically necessary breast screening and supplemental breast examinations for the state employee insurance program, failed on final passage, 22-24 (1 absent). The bill drew dueling fiscal estimates and debate about precedent for single-disease mandates in the state employee plan.

Other notable floor actions and studies

- House Bill 12-14: School transportation funding law was revised to a per‑pupil weighting approach with an amendment that reduced the near-term fiscal note; the bill passed 45-1 (1 absent).
- House Bill 15-42: Student application records for admission to higher education were designated as exempt records; the bill passed 46-0 with emergency clause (1 absent).
- House Bill 14-48: A legislative study on advanced technologies and grant programs (AI, machine learning, quantum computing) passed 46-0 (1 absent).
- House Bill 15-82: A legislative management study on false reports to law enforcement passed unanimously (46-0, 1 absent).
- House Bill 12-80: A change restricting voting in drainage assessment districts to property owners who have paid assessments passed 42-4 (1 absent).
- House Bill 15-27 (required Holocaust education within statute) failed 22-24 (1 absent); sponsors and opponents debated whether course‑level curriculum belongs in statute or education standards.
- Several Senate bills returned from the House with amendments were concurred in and passed, including Senate Bill 22-21 (skilled workforce loan/scholarship eligibility), Senate Bill 21-17 (abandoned surface mine reclamation housekeeping), Senate Bill 21-98 (National Guard leave and veteran definition), Senate Bill 21-20 (transfer to highway patrol troopers retirement fund), and Senate Bill 22-14 (insurance commissioner assuming securities commissioner duties). Most of these passed unanimously or with strong majorities.

Votes at a glance

(Only bill number, short description and final Senate outcome)
- HB 11-43 — $10M appropriation for Great Plains Food Bank facility: PASSED, 37-9-1 absent.
- HB 11-26 — Cosmetology and licensing overhaul: PASSED, 45-1-1 absent.
- HB 12-14 — School transportation weighted reimbursements: PASSED, 45-1-1 absent.
- HB 12-80 — Drainage project voting tied to paid assessments: PASSED, 42-4-1 absent.
- HB 12-83 — Diagnostic/supplemental breast-screening cost-share restriction (PERS): FAILED, 22-24-1 absent.
- HB 14-48 — Legislative study on advanced technologies: PASSED, 46-0-1 absent.
- HB 14-99 — Confidential records for certain federal judges: PASSED, 45-1-1 absent.
- HB 15-24 — Regional planning council grant authority for Department of Commerce: PASSED, 36-10-1 absent.
- HB 15-27 — Required Holocaust education in statute: FAILED, 22-24-1 absent.
- HB 15-41 — On-site wastewater systems chapter and oversight: FAILED, 4-42-1 absent.
- HB 15-42 — Designating student applications as exempt records; emergency clause: PASSED, 46-0-1 absent.
- HB 15-66 / SB 15-66 — Kratom regulation (floor amendment to convert to study failed 21-25-1 absent; bill laid over one legislative day).
- HB 15-82 — Legislative management study on false reports to law enforcement: PASSED, 46-0-1 absent.
- HB 16-13 — Law-enforcement use of robots: PASSED, 46-0-1 absent.
- SB 21-17 — Abandoned surface mine reclamation amendments: PASSED, 46-0-1 absent.
- SB 21-20 — Transfer to highway patrol troopers retirement system fund: PASSED, 46-0-1 absent.
- SB 21-98 — National Guard/federal service leave and veteran definition; emergency clause: PASSED, 46-0-1 absent.
- SB 22-14 — Insurance commissioner assumes securities commissioner duties; emergency clause: PASSED, 40-6-1 absent.
- SB 22-21 — Skilled workforce scholarship/loan eligibility changes: PASSED, 46-0-1 absent.

What’s next: Several items carry implementation steps — agencies must issue rules or reports, the Department of Commerce may begin grant awards under HB 15-24, and agencies using robots must adopt use-of-force policies. The kratom measure remains in play pending further floor action.

Ending: The Senate adjourned until 1 p.m. Monday, April 14, 2025.