Judiciary Committee

Duties and Studies

Statutory and constitutional revision.

(1417 § 7) Consider studying court fines and fees, including fines and fees relating to travel permits, presentence investigations, the drug court program, electronic monitoring, alcohol monitoring, and the 24/7 sobriety program. The study must consider the total amount collected; rate of fees collected, including any money expended to collect the fines and fees; an evaluation of practices in other states; and the overall impacts on a defendant.

(1425 § 5) Consider studying costs and savings associated with pretrial service programs operating in the state and opportunities to reinvest savings to improve re-entry outcomes. The study must include a review of the effect of pretrial services on admissions to county jail, detention facilities, medical costs of participants, rate of failure to appear in court, rate of recidivism, and rate of participation in treatment programs. The study must identify opportunities for counties, courts, and state agencies to invest cost-savings associated with pretrial services in programs, treatment, and services that will further reduce recidivism and promote public health.

(1549 § 6) Consider studying expanding access to criminal record sealing. The study must include the automation of record sealing for individuals eligible to file a petition to seal a criminal record under Section 12-60.1-02, the expansion of eligibility for record sealing, and the potential costs and benefits of creating processes for criminal record expungement alongside, or in lieu of, avenues for criminal record sealing.

(2015 § 9) Study sentencing, correctional, and parole systems within the state, with a focus on improving transparency, consistency, and outcomes in the administration of justice. The study must include a comprehensive review of sentencing requirements and incarceration impacts, including an evaluation of the potential impacts of requiring offenders sentenced to the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to serve 85 percent of their terms in secured facilities. The study must include cost analyses; consideration of data and trends relating to criminal offenses and sentencing; consideration of recidivism trends; consideration of rehabilitation and re-entry opportunities; definitions of terms related to sentencing and incarceration; and safety and accountability measures for minimum security facilities and transitional facilities. The study also must include a review of the structure and function of the Parole Board, including provisions of Chapter 12-59 and any rules adopted by the Parole Board. The review must include membership structure, appointment process, terms, quorum, and meeting transparency; parole eligibility requirements and determinations; victim rights and notification systems; and the role and input of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in parole-related matters. The study may include input from the judicial branch, including district court judges regarding sentencing decisions; state's attorney and defense attorneys regarding charging practices, plea negotiations, and trial resources; the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation regarding inmate classification, housing, placement authority, and transitional services, including work or educational release; the Parole Board regarding parole eligibility and release decisions; law enforcement representatives, including the Chiefs of Police Association, Sheriff's Association, and the Attorney General, regarding impacts to public safety and local and regional jails; the League of Cities and Association of Counties regarding impacts to public safety and local and regional jails; justice-involved individuals regarding the impact of current and potential sentencing and parole practices; and crime victims regarding the impact of sentencing.

(2334 § 2) Consider studying the ownership of alcoholic beverage establishments by licensed charitable gaming organizations. The study must include the prevalence of the ownership of alcoholic beverage establishments by licensed charitable gaming organizations; the process of obtaining ownership of alcoholic beverage establishments, including the use of subsidiaries, partnerships, and organizations; the benefits and detriments of licensed charitable gaming organizations owning alcoholic beverage establishments; and the interaction between gaming manufacturers and distributors and licensed charitable gaming organizations.

Reports

Receive a report from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the findings and recommendations of the task force established to review juvenile justice diversion services and programs. (2025 House Bill No. 1012 § 16)

Receive a report from the Attorney General during the 2025-26 interim regarding the use and effectiveness of the peace officer and correctional officer appreciation grant program, including the number of grants provided, the average amount of bonuses provided by city and county law enforcement agencies and correctional facilities, and other program outcomes. (2025 House Bill No. 1193 § 1)

Receive a report from the Highway Patrol by August 1, 2026, on the findings and recommendations from the study of the driver's license points system and the traffic fee schedule. (2025 House Bill No. 1298 § 6)

Receive a written report from the Attorney General by November 1 of each year summarizing activity in the state for the preceding fiscal year regarding the type, approximate value, and disposition of any civilly forfeited property, and the amount of proceeds received. Summary data and civilly forfeited property must be disaggregated by agency. The report must include the case reports provided by the law enforcement agencies. (NDCC § 19-03.1-36.8(4))

Before July 1 of each year, the Supreme Court shall submit to the Legislative Management a report on the status of the program to assist rural counties and municipalities in recruiting attorneys. (NDCC § 27-02.2-13)

Receive report from the Department of Health and Human Services before March 1 of each even-numbered year on services provided by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation relating to individuals at the State Hospital who have been committed to the care and custody of the Executive Director of the Department of Health and Human Services. (NDCC § 50‑06‑31)

Receive a biennial report from the Racing Commission and recommendations for legislation which address the issue of the liability of charitable organizations that receive and disburse money handled through account wagering. (NDCC § 53-06.2-04)

Receive report, as requested, from the Director of the North Dakota Lottery regarding the operation of the lottery. (NDCC § 53‑12.1‑03)

Review any executive order issued by the President of the United States which has not been affirmed by a vote of Congress and signed into law and recommend to the Attorney General and the Governor that the executive order be further reviewed. Upon recommendation from the Legislative Management, the Attorney General shall review the executive order to determine the constitutionality of the order and whether the state should seek an exemption from the order or seek to have the order declared to be an unconstitutional exercise of legislative authority by the President. (NDCC § 54-03-32)

Receive a report from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation relating to procedures for tracking uniform data points; standardizing and automating criminal justice data collection, retention, and dissemination; and improving data connectivity between system partners, including a proposal to develop a data sharing portal to alert the Department of Health and Human Services of changes to the Medicaid status of offenders in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (2025 House Bill No. 1549 § 4) (NDCC § 54-23.3-XX)

Receive a report from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the three pilot counties, before January 1, 2027, regarding the process and outcome of the prosecution-led diversion pilot program and any recommendations for legislation. (2025 House Bill No. 1425 § 4) (NDCC § 54-23.3-XX)

Review uniform laws recommended by the Commission on Uniform State Laws. (NDCC § 54-35-02)

Receive annual report from the Director of the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents containing pertinent data on the indigent defense contract system and established public defender offices. (NDCC § 54-61-03)