The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.North Dakota limits county and township zoning authority over animal feeding operations and caps permit fees
Last action · April 4, 2025: Filed with Secretary Of State 04/03Sponsors: Paul Thomas and 5 others
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What This Bill Does
North Dakota restricts county and township boards from imposing water quality or site security regulations on s, caps total permit-related fees at $500, and sets uniform setback and odor regulations effective August 1, 2026.
Livestock operators face standardized county and township review timelines and fee limits, while local governments are barred from enforcing setbacks that exceed state standards or requiring permits for compliant modifications, with courts required to award legal costs to the prevailing party in zoning challenges.
- North Dakota counties and townships exercise local zoning powers that have frequently intersected with the expansion and siting of large animal feeding operations. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Animal feeding operation owners
Operators face capped fee limits of $500, standardized 60-day review timelines, and protection from local water quality or site security regulations.
Boards of county commissioners
Counties are prohibited from imposing zoning restrictions or setbacks beyond state limits and face mandatory attorney fee awards if their zoning decisions are successfully challenged.
Boards of township supervisors
Townships lose authority to enforce independent water quality, lagoon, or site security requirements and are restricted in establishing setback distances outside state guidelines.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum fee a county or township can charge for an animal feeding operation permit or petition?
What happens if a county or township board fails to act on an animal feeding operation construction petition within sixty days?
When does this new law take effect?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
18 actions- Apr 4, 2025Filed with Secretary Of State 04/03
- Apr 3, 2025SenateEnrolledSigned by Governor 04/02
- Mar 31, 2025SenateEnrolledSent to Governor
- Mar 31, 2025SenateSigned by President
- Mar 31, 2025HouseSigned by Speaker
- Mar 26, 2025SenateReturned to Senate
Show 12 earlier actions
- Mar 25, 2025HouseFloorSecond reading, passed, yeas 66 nays 25
- Mar 20, 2025HouseCommitteeReported back, do pass, place on calendar 9 5 0
- Mar 7, 2025HouseCommitteeCommittee Hearing 10:15
- Feb 21, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced, first reading, referred Agriculture Committee
- Feb 20, 2025HouseReceived from Senate
- Feb 19, 2025SenateFloorSecond reading, passed, yeas 42 nays 5
- Feb 17, 2025SenateCommitteeAmendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Feb 14, 2025SenateCommitteeReported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 5 1 0
- Feb 3, 2025SenateRereferred to Agriculture and Veterans Affairs
- Jan 30, 2025SenateCommitteeReported back, do not pass, placed on calendar 6 0 0
- Jan 23, 2025SenateCommitteeCommittee Hearing 10:30
- Jan 13, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, first reading, referred Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Preemption of Local Environmental and Zoning Authority
The legislation systematically strips counties and townships of authority to impose independent water quality, lagoon, or site security rules on animal feeding operations.
Connected Entities
Sources
ndlegis.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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