Laws & Regulations – TheMinotVoice.com

North Dakota legislators debate price tag of bill targeting state library content

by: MinotVoice | April 11, 2025

A new proposal at the North Dakota Legislature is stirring up debate over who pays when state rules land in local libraries. Senate Bill 2307 would require school and public libraries to move “offensively sexual” materials out of easy reach of minors — but lawmakers are divided over the cost. Supporters say it’s a simple

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

One Small Business, One Big Fight: Challenging Trump’s Tariffs

by: MinotVoice | April 8, 2025

When a company with just ten employees takes on the federal government, it’s worth paying attention. Emily Ley, founder of the stationery brand Simplified, has filed the first known lawsuit challenging President Trump’s China tariffs. Her argument is simple: the tariffs are unconstitutional and crippling to small businesses like hers. With rising costs threatening jobs,

Read & Share sourced from: Fast Company

NDSU Retires Parking Enforcement

by: Josh Wolsky | April 1, 2025

For years, he was a campus constant—the sharp-eyed enforcer of 30-minute zones, the reason students kept one eye on the clock. Now, “Ticket Man” is officially off duty. NDSU’s long-time parking watchdog has retired, and his absence is stirring up a mix of relief, nostalgia, and nervous anticipation. Some students are celebrating the end of

Read & Share sourced from: The Spectrum

Students Detained Without Warning Shake Trust on Minnesota Campuses

by: Josh Wolsky | April 1, 2025

Students come to Minnesota from around the world with the hope that if they follow the rules, they’ll be safe, supported, and respected. But two recent ICE arrests—one in Mankato, another in Minneapolis—have shattered that sense of security. With little explanation and no prior contact with the universities, immigration officials detained international students, raising alarm

Read & Share sourced from: Star Tribune

Montana’s Property Tax Loophole: How Luxury Homes Benefit While Others Pay More

by: Josh Wolsky | March 31, 2025

Montana’s property tax system is under scrutiny, and for good reason. A recent investigation revealed that thousands of million-dollar homes — including Gov. Greg Gianforte’s — benefit from agricultural tax breaks, paying far less than comparable residential properties. This loophole allows high-end real estate on large parcels to qualify for reduced land taxes, shifting the

Read & Share sourced from: Montana Free Press

North Dakota Supreme Court hears arguments over abortion ban

by: MinotVoice | March 26, 2025

The future of North Dakota’s abortion laws is once again in the hands of the state’s highest court. At issue is a 2023 ban struck down by a district judge who found it vague and unconstitutional. The state argues that no such right to elective abortion exists in North Dakota’s constitution, while challengers say the

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Divorce in North Dakota: Your Essential Guide

by: MinotVoice | March 21, 2025

What happens when a marriage stops working—but life still has to move forward? Divorce can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start. Family law attorney Priscilla Ulloa offers a clear, practical guide to the options available, from fully uncontested splits to complex contested cases. With thoughtful insight and plain language, she breaks

Read & Share sourced from: Fargo Inc..

Tennessee is Entering An Era of Yes. Will Minot Follow?

By: Strong Towns, Strong Towns | March 14, 2025

For years, housing production has favored large-scale developers. They can tap into tax breaks, subsidies and specialized financing tools that are often out of reach for smaller, local builders. Furthermore, zoning codes often favor large-scale, single-use developments over small-scale, incremental growth. Meanwhile, smaller, local builders — like the homeowner trying to build an addition on

Read & Share sourced from: Strong Towns

North Dakota Senate sends window tint bill to governor

by: MinotVoice | March 12, 2025

A bill lowering North Dakota’s restrictions on vehicle window tint is now headed to Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s desk. House Bill 1340, which passed the Senate 41-6, would allow front side windows to be tinted to 35% light transmission, down from the current 50%. While the change gives drivers more flexibility, it’s still stricter than a

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

Grand Forks pursuing planning commission changes to include military presence

by: MinotVoice | March 12, 2025

Decisions about land use in Grand Forks may soon have a new voice at the table: the Grand Forks Air Force Base. In response to state legislation aimed at protecting military installations from development conflicts, local leaders are exploring ways to add base representation to planning and zoning commissions. While the move could strengthen communication

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Mississippi Passes Bill Banning Lab-Grown Meat

by: MinotVoice | March 11, 2025

Mississippi has become the third state to ban cultivated meat, joining Florida and Alabama in prohibiting the production and sale of lab-grown alternatives to traditional livestock. Supporters, including the state’s agriculture commissioner, frame the move as a defense of conventional farming, while critics see it as political theater targeting an industry that doesn’t yet have

Read & Share sourced from: WIRED

Propety nuisances highlight meeting

by: Josh Wolsky | March 11, 2025

The first in a series of neighborhood meetings by the City of Minot tackled a tough but familiar issue—problem properties that burden the city and its taxpayers. At the first meeting in a new series, city officials laid out the challenges of enforcing zoning codes and abating nuisance properties, including one case that could eat

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

Social media companies applaud Utah’s latest bill aimed at teen social media use

by: Josh Wolsky | March 7, 2025

Utah is taking another step to regulate teen social media use, this time by shifting responsibility to app stores. A newly passed bill would require Apple and Google to verify users’ ages and link minors’ accounts to a parent’s for approval before downloading apps with terms of service agreements. Unlike past efforts, this measure has

Read & Share sourced from: Utah News Dispatch

North Dakota Senate considers resolutions to change voter-approved term limits

By: Michael Achterling, North Dakota Monitor | March 7, 2025

A Senate committee heard a resolution Thursday that attempts to change lawmaker term limits approved by North Dakota voters in 2022. Senate Concurrent Resolution 4028, sponsored by Sen. Justin Gerhardt, R-Mandan, would allow lawmakers to serve three terms, or 12 years, in either the House or the Senate chamber. The resolution would also limit statewide

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

How Zoning Laws Are Undermining New Hampshire’s Future (And Why it Matters in Minot)

by: Josh Wolsky | March 5, 2025

For years, zoning laws were seen as a way to guide responsible development. But in New Hampshire, they’ve become something else entirely—a barrier to growth, affordability, and opportunity. A once-simple framework has ballooned into 23,000 pages of regulations across nearly 270 jurisdictions, choking off new housing and driving up costs. Now, some Granite Staters are

Read & Share sourced from: Inside Sources

Bismarck revisits backyard chicken ordinance

by: Josh Wolsky | March 5, 2025

Bismarck is once again debating whether backyard chickens should be allowed within city limits. Currently, only rural residential areas permit small flocks, but growing public interest has city leaders reconsidering. Supporters highlight the benefits of fresh eggs and food security, while opponents worry about noise and public health risks like avian flu. If the city

Read & Share sourced from: KX News