Bismarck — The North Dakota Senate on Monday approved Engrossed House Bill 11‑99, a measure the workforce development committee described as a multi‑pronged response to the state’s missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP) crisis. The Senate recorded a final tally of 46 ayes and 1 nay.

Senator Axman, speaking for the bill, said MMIP is “one of our most urgent and heartbreaking scribe[s] in our state,” and argued the legislation closes gaps in communication, coordination and funding. The bill includes an appropriation of $250,000 and directs spending toward public awareness and education, implementation of a Feather Alert system modeled on Amber Alert, and improved law enforcement coordination and training to address jurisdictional confusion.

Axman said the funding would support a statewide education campaign to encourage timely reporting and to provide families with resources, plus training for law enforcement and judicial officials in culturally informed responses. The proposal also would fund integration of the Feather Alert into existing emergency infrastructure and establish centralized databases and communications tools to prevent cases from falling through jurisdictional cracks.

The sponsor and committee members noted the proposal also envisions infrastructure benefits such as improvements in rural cellular service that would aid search-and-rescue operations and emergency connectivity.

The Senate committee on workforce development reported unanimous support for the bill, and the appropriations committee returned it favorably (15‑1). On final passage the Senate recorded 46 ayes, 1 nay.

The engrossed bill text reported to the Senate creates a new section in chapter 54‑12 of the North Dakota Century Code relating to collection of missing persons data, establishes a Missing Indigenous People Task Force measures, requires a legislative management report, and includes an appropriation and continuing appropriation language.

Implementation steps described on the floor include establishing the Feather Alert system, public education campaigns, and interagency coordination. The bill sets reporting deadlines for the Department and directs presentation of findings and recommendations to legislative management.

Next steps: With Senate passage, the bill will proceed according to the usual legislative process; the bill record includes an appropriation and reporting requirements.