Bill > SB2082

This bill amends North Dakota's hazardous chemical fee system by modifying how fees are set and collected for facilities reporting hazardous chemicals. Under the new provisions, the director of the division of homeland security will have more flexibility in setting fees, with key restrictions including that fee increases after January 1, 2026, cannot exceed five dollars per year and must be announced at least one year in advance. The bill changes the fee structure from a flat $25 per facility to a per-chemical basis, with a maximum facility fee increasing from $475 to $950. The bill also introduces more detailed guidelines for late fees, including limits on late fee amounts and potential processing of willful violations after six months. Facilities owned by family farms and state or local governments remain exempt from these fees. The bill maintains the existing requirement to transfer half of the collected fees to county hazardous chemical preparedness and response accounts and allows state and county governments to accept grants and gifts to support these programs. The definition of "hazardous chemical" remains consistent with federal regulations, and the bill explicitly states that the state fee system does not supersede local city fee systems for hazardous chemicals.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

Energy and Natural Resources (S)

https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo2082.html