A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact subsection 2 of section 4.1-75-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to reimbursement of costs associated with possession of an estray.
Summary
SB 2148 would amend North Dakota law governing estrays, which are livestock found running at large without an identified owner. The bill focuses on how costs associated with taking possession of an estray are reimbursed and how any remaining money from the sale of the animal is handled. Under the bill, reimbursement for those costs would still be deducted from the sale proceeds, but the remaining balance would no longer be forwarded to the North Dakota Stockmen's Association fund.
Instead, any leftover proceeds after reimbursement would be reported and submitted to the state treasurer for deposit with the state abandoned property office under chapter 47-30.2. In practical terms, the bill would shift the handling of unclaimed estray sale proceeds away from the Stockmen's Association and into the state's abandoned property framework, changing the destination and administration of those funds.
Impact
The bill would amend subsection 2 of section 4.1-75-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, altering the statutory process for distributing proceeds from the sale of estrays. It would preserve reimbursement for possession-related costs but redirect any remaining funds to the state abandoned property office rather than the North Dakota Stockmen's Association fund. This would affect livestock owners, individuals or entities that take custody of estrays, the North Dakota Stockmen's Association, and the state treasurer/abandoned property office.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have faced strong opposition in the Senate. On second reading it failed by a wide margin, with only 3 yeas and 44 nays, indicating little support for the proposed change. No committee discussion was provided, so the available record suggests the bill did not gain meaningful legislative traction.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be the proposed redirection of remaining estray sale proceeds. Supporters likely viewed the change as a way to treat unclaimed funds under the state's abandoned property system, while opponents likely preferred keeping the current practice of sending those funds to the North Dakota Stockmen's Association fund. The vote suggests resistance to changing the existing statutory arrangement, especially where it would remove funds from an agricultural industry-related entity and place them under state abandoned property administration.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact subsection 2 of section 4.1-75-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to reimbursement of costs associated with possession of an estray.
AN ACT to amend and reenact subsections 2 and 6 of section 44-08-04, subsection 2 of section 54-03-20, and subsection 5 of section 54-06-09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to authorized travel expense and lodging reimbursement rates.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact subsection 2 of section 44-08-04 and subsection 2 of section 54-03-20 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to lodging, compensation, and expense reimbursement.
AN ACT to amend and reenact section 4.1-72-05 and subdivision f of subsection 2 of section 36-01-36 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the administration of the premises identification program.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 39-06-49, subsection 1 of section 39-06.2-07, subsection 2 of section 39-06.2-08, subdivision c of subsection 3 of section 39-06.2-09, sections 39-06.2-09.1, 39-06.2-13.1, and 39-06.2-19, and subsection 3 of section 39-16-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to driver's license fees.