North Dakota Expands Board Powers Over State Land Leases and Mineral Resource Development

Original title: AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 15-01-02 and 15-05-09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the powers of the board of university and school lands and leases on state lands.

Last action · April 1, 2025: Filed with Secretary Of State 03/31Sponsors: Dale Patten and 5 others

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What This Bill Does

North Dakota Senate Bill 2302 authorizes the board of university and school lands to cancel leases if a lessee intends to hinder or block resource development, and updates its authority over public lands and .

Why it matters

The measure alters the legal conditions under which private entities lease state lands for oil, gas, and mineral extraction, granting the state explicit cancellation powers when development is obstructed.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Board of university and school lands

The board receives explicit authority to cancel leases when development is hindered and maintains existing control over public lands and permanent funds.

Directly affected

Lessees of state lands

Lessees face potential lease cancellation if it is discovered they intend to hinder or block resource development.

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 new power does the board of university and school lands receive under this law?

The board gains the explicit authority to cancel a lease if it is discovered that a lessee intends to hinder or block the development of resources on state lands.

What types of resources can the board lease out on state-controlled lands?

The board may lease lands containing oil, gas, coal, cement materials, sodium sulfate, sand and gravel, road material, building stone, chemical substances, metallic ores, critical minerals, rare earth elements, and other naturally occurring elements.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

16 actions

Apr 1, 2025
Filed with Secretary Of State 03/31
Mar 31, 2025SenateEnrolled
Signed by Governor 03/28
Mar 27, 2025SenateEnrolled
Sent to Governor
Mar 27, 2025Senate
Signed by President
Mar 27, 2025House
Signed by Speaker
Mar 25, 2025Senate
Returned to Senate

Show 10 earlier actions

Mar 24, 2025HouseFloor
Second reading, passed, yeas 83 nays 9
Mar 21, 2025HouseCommittee
Reported back, do pass, placed on consent calendar 12 0 1
Mar 14, 2025HouseCommittee
Committee Hearing 09:00
Feb 18, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Feb 13, 2025House
Received from Senate
Feb 12, 2025SenateFloor
Second reading, passed, yeas 45 nays 2
Feb 11, 2025SenateCommittee
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
Feb 10, 2025SenateCommittee
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 0 1
Jan 30, 2025SenateCommittee
Committee Hearing 11:00
Jan 20, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Version history

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