AN ACT to amend and reenact section 4.1-31-01.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to federal meat inspection regulations.
Summary
HB 1085 updates North Dakota’s incorporation by reference of federal meat and poultry inspection regulations. The bill amends section 4.1-31-01.1 of the North Dakota Century Code to replace the prior federal-regulations date with July 3, 2024, meaning the state will recognize the more current version of the applicable federal rules under Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
The bill continues North Dakota’s practice of aligning state law with specified federal meat inspection standards, while preserving the existing exclusions for 9 CFR parts 307.5 and 381.38. It does not create a new state inspection program or change the substance of the listed regulations itself; rather, it updates the date of incorporation so state law tracks the federal framework as of the newer effective date.
Impact
HB 1085 affects North Dakota’s statutory reference to federal meat and poultry inspection rules by updating the incorporated federal regulations to those effective July 3, 2024. This keeps state law synchronized with current federal standards for meat and poultry inspection, processing, sanitation, labeling, and related compliance requirements for regulated businesses and state enforcement officials. The bill primarily impacts meat processors, poultry processors, inspectors, and the Agriculture Department by ensuring the state code points to the latest federal regulatory baseline.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the House 90-0 and the Senate 47-0, with no recorded opposition in either chamber. The unanimous votes suggest general agreement that the update was a routine technical conformity measure rather than a policy change.
Contention
There is no visible substantive contention in the available record. No committee transcript is provided, and the vote history shows unanimous approval. The only likely point of interest is the routine question of whether state law should continue incorporating federal regulations by reference and whether the updated federal date captures the intended regulatory scope, but no member opposition or debate is documented here.