AN ACT to amend and reenact section 20.1-03-11.4 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to donations to the private land open to sportsmen program.
Summary
HB 1412 amends North Dakota Century Code section 20.1-03-11.4 to update the donation option tied to deer lottery license applications. Under the bill, the director of Game and Fish must continue to include on each deer lottery license application an option for an unsuccessful applicant to donate the refund or license fee amount they would otherwise receive to the private land open to sportsmen program.
The bill also clarifies where the donated money goes: all funds collected under this section must be deposited into the game and fish private land habitat and access improvement fund and allocated to the private land open to sportsmen program. In practical terms, the measure preserves and reinforces a voluntary funding mechanism that supports habitat improvement and public access on private lands for sportsmen.
Impact
HB 1412 makes a targeted amendment to the state’s wildlife licensing and conservation funding statutes by revising section 20.1-03-11.4. It affects deer lottery license applicants, the North Dakota Game and Fish director, and the private land open to sportsmen program, while directing donated funds into the game and fish private land habitat and access improvement fund for program use. The bill does not create a new program, but it refines the existing donation language and fund allocation rules.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House 91-0 and the Senate 47-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The lack of recorded committee testimony or dissent suggests the measure was viewed as a straightforward administrative and conservation-related update.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention around HB 1412. No committee transcripts were provided, and the floor votes were unanimous in both chambers. Any potential policy discussion would likely have centered on the wording change from refund to license fee donation and the continued use of voluntary applicant contributions to support the private land open to sportsmen program, but no opposition is reflected in the available record.