This bill amends sections 32-12.1-03 and 32-12.2-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, which pertain to the liability limits for political subdivisions and the state. The amendments increase the liability caps for political subdivisions from $375,000 to $468,750 per person and from $1 million to $1,875,000 for multiple claims arising from a single occurrence. Similarly, the liability cap for the state is raised to the same amounts. The bill also removes the requirement for annual adjustments to these liability limits that were previously scheduled from 2023 to 2026, and it clarifies that judgments against the state exceeding the new limits can only be paid if authorized by the legislative assembly.

Furthermore, the bill specifies the conditions under which the state can be held liable for damages, limiting liability to injuries caused by the negligence or wrongful acts of state employees within their scope of employment. It sets the state's liability at $255,000 per person and $2 million for multiple claims from a single occurrence, while also outlining exclusions from liability for claims related to public duties, tax assessments, natural disasters, and injuries caused by wild animals. The effective date for these changes is set for June 30, 2026, replacing the previous date of July 31, 2027.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 32-12.1-03, 32-12.2-02
Enrollment: 32-12.1-03, 32-12.2-02