ND HB1603

Appropriates $500,000 from the general fund to the State Historical Society for compliance with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) for the 2025-2027 biennium

Establishes a compliance committee composed of tribal historic preservation officers from each North Dakota tribe, plus representatives from the State Historical Society, Indian Affairs Commission, and Attorney General's office

Requires participating tribes to provide matching funds of up to $100,000 each for committee efforts, with all funds placed in a separate account overseen by the Office of Management and Budget

Directs the committee to prioritize repatriation of human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony, and to develop policies for training, consultation, and documentation

Explicitly prohibits use of funds for any new scientific study of Native American ancestral remains or burial property