Bill > HB1487

This bill creates a new chapter in the North Dakota Century Code related to financial entities' use of merchant codes to track firearm and ammunition-related purchases. The key provisions include: 1. Definitions of terms such as "customer," "disclosure," "financial entity," "firearms code," "firearms retailer," "government entity," and "protected financial information." 2. Limitations on the use of firearms codes by financial entities, prohibiting them from requiring such codes in a way that distinguishes firearms retailers from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers, and from declining transactions or taking actions solely based on the assignment of a firearms code. 3. Investigation and enforcement mechanisms, allowing individuals to report violations to the Attorney General, who can pursue injunctions and impose fees on financial entities that willfully violate the law. 4. Establishment of a "Merchant Code Violation Fund" to be used for disbursements to individuals harmed by violations and administrative expenses. 5. A legislative management study on the cost to North Dakota retailers for the collection, remittance, and filing of sales and use tax, categorized by sales volume.