Gov. Burgum signs bill reforming forfeiture in North Dakota

Gov. Doug Burgum on Thursday signed the last 53 bills remaining from the 2019 North Dakota legislative session, including one reforming civil asset forfeiture.

Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, brought the original bill to eliminate the “perverse incentive” of “policing for profit.” Civil asset forfeiture applies to property involved in crime.

The bill evolved greatly over lawmakers’ 76-day session, which ended April 26, with extensive work from the House Judiciary Committee before its smoother Senate passage.

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