Tag: ND Legislature

North Dakota Senate moves forward bills defining gender, altering school bathroom rules

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by: MinotVoice  |  

North Dakota lawmakers moved one step closer this week to tightening restrictions around bathrooms in public schools and how gender is defined in state law. The Senate advanced two high-profile bills — one banning all-gender bathrooms in K-12 schools and another defining gender in state code based on biological sex. Supporters say the measures add

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

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

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by: MinotVoice  |  

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

Port: Controversial Minot lawmaker apparently takes a vacation during closing weeks of the session

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Most lawmakers know there’s a time to debate and a time to take a break — and the final weeks of a legislative session usually aren’t the latter. But in Bismarck, while state leaders wrestle with billion-dollar decisions, Rep. Lori VanWinkle of Minot is absent — reportedly on a ski vacation. Her empty seat comes

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

Resolution raising constitutional ballot measure threshold to 60% passes North Dakota Senate

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by: MinotVoice  |  

A bill raising the public vote threshold to 60% to approve constitutional ballot measures in North Dakota passed the Senate Wednesday on a 33-13 vote. House Resolution 3003, sponsored by Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield, would require a 60% threshold to pass both constitutional ballot petitions initiated by the people and constitutional resolutions from the Legislature.

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

State senate votes down idea to decriminalize marijuana

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by: MinotVoice  |  

North Dakota lawmakers aren’t ready to ease up on marijuana laws. This week, state senators voted down a bill that would have reduced penalties for possessing small amounts of cannabis. Supporters argued it would help unclog the legal system and free up resources for more serious crimes. Opponents said the current system is working fine,

Read & Share   sourced from: KX News

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Port: The NDGOP’s endorsement process has been corrupted, and the party is powerless to do anything about it

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by: MinotVoice  |  

In North Dakota politics, winning the Republican endorsement is often the same as winning the election. So it matters—deeply—how those endorsements are decided. But right now, there’s no single rulebook. Local party districts are skirting state GOP guidelines, locking out challengers and keeping party leadership from enforcing transparency. Even in Minot, we’ve seen it: candidates

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

Lawmakers pass ban on approval, ranked-choice voting in North Dakota

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Fargo voters embraced approval voting years ago, hoping for a fairer, more representative local election process. Now, that experiment may be coming to an end. Lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban approval and ranked-choice voting statewide—despite Fargo’s clear support for the method. Supporters of the ban say it’s about preserving trust and simplicity.

Read & Share   sourced from: InForum

House passes bill authorizing charter schools in North Dakota

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

North Dakota is one step closer to welcoming public charter schools. A bill clearing the House this week would allow these independently run, publicly funded schools to open outside traditional school districts—if communities want them. Supporters see new opportunities, especially in areas where schools are at risk of closing. Critics worry about funding being stretched

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Legislative houses differ in flood protection project funding

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by: MinotVoice  |  

Flood protection in the Souris Basin hinges on a familiar tug-of-war: big needs, tight budgets, and two chambers with different philosophies. The House wants to commit $125 million; the Senate is leaning toward $65 million. At the heart of the debate is a basic misunderstanding—lawmakers see unspent funds, while local leaders see money already spoken

Read & Share   sourced from: Minot Daily News

North Dakota lawmakers stop time-change bill 

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by: MinotVoice  |  

North Dakotans won’t be ditching the clock change anytime soon. A bill to end the state’s seasonal time shifts was voted down in the Senate, keeping the twice-a-year tradition in place. Supporters had argued that sticking with one time year-round would improve health, productivity, and predictability. But concerns about falling out of sync with neighboring

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Student cellphone bills pass North Dakota Legislature; bell-to-bell ban comes back

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By: Michael Achterling, Jeff Beach, North Dakota Monitor |

North Dakota lawmakers passed bills Monday that would prohibit student cellphone use during the school day, reviving one bill that had been defeated last week. Senate Bill 2354 and House Bill 1160 differ on which schools would be affected and whether school districts would have the power to allow cellphone use during noninstructional time, such

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

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Bill requiring Legacy Fund disclosure website sees support in North Dakota Legislature

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by: MinotVoice  |  

North Dakotans may soon get a clearer view of where their $12 billion Legacy Fund is invested. A bill passed unanimously by the Senate would create a dedicated website listing the fund’s holdings—an effort to make public information more accessible and transparent. While some investment details remain confidential due to contract limits, state officials say

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Our opinion: Public comment law is a good idea, but should be happening already

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by: MinotVoice  |  

It shouldn’t take a state law to guarantee public comment at local government meetings—but that’s exactly what’s moving through the North Dakota Legislature. Senate Bill 2180 would require city councils, school boards, and other local bodies to set aside time for public input at every regular meeting. Most already do. Some still don’t. That’s the

Read & Share   sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

North Dakota House committee gives ‘do-pass’ recommendation to deer baiting bill

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

In North Dakota’s long-running debate over big game baiting, a new chapter is unfolding. Lawmakers in the House have advanced a bill that would block the Game and Fish Department from banning baiting on private land—even in areas where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found. Supporters see it as a property rights issue; opponents

Read & Share   sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Bill to ban student cellphone use fails in ND Senate; House expected to take up issue Monday

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by: Josh Wolsky  |  

A push to ban student cellphones statewide during the school day fell short in the North Dakota Senate this week, despite support from Governor Kelly Armstrong. The proposal, House Bill 1160, aimed to keep devices locked away from first bell to last. Supporters said it would boost academics and mental health—but critics argued local school

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Landowners, local governments lose power struggle over power lines  

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by: MinotVoice  |  

A debate over power and proximity came to a head in the North Dakota Senate this week. Lawmakers narrowly approved a bill giving the state authority to override local zoning rules for electrical transmission lines—despite opposition from landowners and a committee’s recommendation to reject it. Supporters say strict local setbacks threaten vital infrastructure; critics see

Read & Share   sourced from: North Dakota Monitor