North DakotaNorth Dakota task force tracks missing Indigenous people and supports tribal searches
A state task force brings agencies and tribes together to address search barriers, tracks information about missing Indigenous people, and manages grants for tribal efforts.
What it does
A task force brings North Dakota agencies, lawmakers, and tribal representatives together to address barriers in searches for missing Indigenous people and report its work each year.
The attorney general maintains a missing person repository for authorized users, including demographic information about Indigenous people reported missing.
The state sets aside up to $250,000 for tribal efforts to find missing Indigenous people. Any grant fund money left after July 31, 2035, returns to the general fund.
Argument forRegular work across agencies and tribes could improve communication and help them address barriers in searches for missing Indigenous people.
Argument againstBecause repository records are shared only under bureau rules, families and community members may have limited access to information that could help them follow a search.
More detail
The task force meets at least once each quarter, identifies barriers between agencies, recommends ways to reduce cases, and reports its work to lawmakers each year. Membership includes state officials, lawmakers, and representatives from each federally recognized Indian nation, tribe, or band in North Dakota. The task force must respect the government-to-government relationship between North Dakota and each tribe. It may recommend actions to federal, state, and local agencies. The task force meets at least quarterly and sends its report to legislative management by August 1 each year.
The attorney general maintains a repository where authorized users enter missing person information, including information provided by federally recognized tribes in North Dakota. The information includes demographic data about Indigenous people reported missing. Repository records are exempt from public disclosure except as allowed by bureau rules. Access is limited to authorized users under bureau rules.
The state transfers $250,000, or as much as needed, from the general fund to support the missing Indigenous people grant fund; the task force uses the fund to support tribal efforts to identify, report, and find missing Indigenous people. Funding supports efforts by federally recognized Indian nations, tribes, or bands in North Dakota to identify, report, and find missing Indigenous people. The appropriation covers the two-year period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Money remaining in the grant fund after July 31, 2035, transfers to the general fund. The $250,000 transfer covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027; remaining grant fund money transfers after July 31, 2035.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 11Filed with Secretary Of State 05/02Latest
- May 2Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong 05/01Became Law
- May 1Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- May 1Signed by Speaker
- Apr 29Signed by President
- Apr 28Emergency clause carried
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1199. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 28Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 46 nays 1Major
- Apr 28Conference committee report adopted
- Apr 25Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarMinor
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1199. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 25Second reading, passed, yeas 91 nays 1, Emergency clause carriedMajor
- Apr 25Conference committee report adopted
- Apr 24Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarMinor
- Apr 18Conference committee appointed Axtman Larson Powers
- Apr 15Conference committee appointed McLeod C. Brown Schneider
- Apr 15Refused to concur
- Apr 8Returned to House (12)
- Apr 7Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 46 nays 1Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1199. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 7Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Apr 4Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 15 1 0Minor
- Mar 28Rereferred to Appropriations
- Mar 28Amendment adopted
- Mar 27Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 5 0 0Minor
- Mar 13Committee Hearing 10:00
- Feb 24Introduced, first reading, referred Workforce Development CommitteeMinor
- Feb 21Received from House
- Feb 20Second reading, passed, yeas 73 nays 12Passed House
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1199. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 22 0 1Minor
- Feb 11Rereferred to Appropriations
- Feb 11Amendment adopted
- Feb 10Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 13 0 1Minor
- Jan 23Committee Hearing 03:15
- Jan 10Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs CommitteeIntroduced
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