Senate Committee Recommends ‘Do Not Pass’ To Renters Bill on Set Temperatures

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — North Dakota Senate Industry and Business Committee has given a do-not-pass recommendation for a bill that would require landlords to have set temperatures in apartments.

It comes a month after a “do pass” recommendation from the House.

The bill would have required landlords to have temperatures no less than sixty-eight degrees between October 1st and April 30th.

Several committee members in opposition mentioned the hindrance it would bring to current tenants who like their windows open.

“I think it’s hard to legislate something that’s good for everybody. And I think the ultimate mechanism for telling a landlord you’re not happy is moving out. And I agree as the previous senator has said that you know the sooner we’ll be on air conditioning and you’re going to be giving a set of metrics which are impossible to comply with because everybody has different desires,” said Sen. Mark Enget, (R) Powers Lake.

The original version of the bill had a section on cooling during the months of May through August, but it was amended.