AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 4.1-19-03 and 4.1-19-05 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the management of eggs and poultry in the state; and to repeal section 4.1-19-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to licensing requirements for buyers, sellers, and producers of eggs and poultry.
Summary
HB 1084 updates North Dakota’s egg and poultry law by revising the Agriculture Commissioner’s duties and removing an outdated licensing provision. The bill keeps the commissioner responsible for promoting improved poultry breeding practices, cooperating on disease control, serving as the state’s official agency for participation in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, and coordinating federal-state poultry grading services. It also retains the commissioner’s rulemaking authority to carry out the chapter.
The bill also revises the penalty section for violations of the chapter or related rules. It confirms that violations are a class A misdemeanor, authorizes civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, and allows those penalties to be handled either by the courts or through an administrative hearing before an independent hearing officer. The commissioner may also bring civil actions in the name of the state. The bill repeals section 4.1-19-04, which had dealt with licensing requirements for buyers, sellers, and producers of eggs and poultry, indicating a streamlining or modernization of the regulatory framework.
Impact
HB 1084 amends North Dakota Century Code sections governing poultry and egg management, primarily affecting the Agriculture Commissioner’s statutory responsibilities and enforcement tools. It removes a separate licensing section for egg and poultry market participants, while preserving and clarifying the state’s authority over poultry disease control, grading, and marketing standards. The bill strengthens enforcement by expressly authorizing administrative civil-penalty proceedings and maintaining misdemeanor penalties for violations and false statements.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House 89-1 and the Senate 47-0, suggesting strong bipartisan agreement and little opposition. The lack of committee transcript discussion also points to a technical or housekeeping measure rather than a contentious policy change.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. The only apparent area that could have drawn attention is the repeal of the licensing section for buyers, sellers, and producers of eggs and poultry, which may reflect a regulatory rollback or simplification. However, the overwhelming vote margins indicate that any concerns about reduced oversight or changes to enforcement were not significant enough to generate meaningful opposition.