ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota’s Republican Legislature isn’t backing down from Gov. Dayton’s veto threats as lawmakers finalize their budget offer. The Legislature started piecing together budget bills Monday as legislative leaders prepared to head into negotiations with the Democratic governor. The environmental funding bill would delay Dayton’s initiative requiring buffers between cropland and waterways until 2019. Dayton has vowed…
BISMARCK, ND — After four months and 77 days in session, the North Dakota legislature has adjourned the 2017 session. Leaders thanked members in each party and their staffs for all of their work to get the session done before the mandated 80-day cutoff. Gov. Burgum thanked the legislature for “working with the executive branch and other state agencies…
NORTH DAKOTA — North Dakota lawmakers have approved a measure that states students cannot be stopped from participating in any “student-initiated prayer” at public or non-public schools. Supporters of the measure said it’s in response to an incident at a football game two years ago between two parochial high schools during a playoff game. Because the playoff game was hosted…
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Legislature is racing to finish its work five days before the constitutional 80-day limit. This is day 72, and lawmakers may meet Saturday as they work to resolve remaining bills and agree on a budget. The session opened in January with more than 800 measures. Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner says there were…
BISMARCK, N.D. — Lawmakers have also approved a bill that would extend criminal penalties for anyone who attacks health care and emergency workers with a bodily fluid. Violators could face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. They have also approved the creation of a 19-member commission to study the state’s initiated and referred measure process….
BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota legislators have approved changes to the state’s medical marijuana bill which was passed by voters last November and Gov. Burgum said he’ll sign it. Senators approved regulations to the bill with a two-thirds majority vote. Under the changes, North Dakota can have up to two growers and eight dispensaries statewide. The organization in charge of…
BISMARCK, N.D. – Sanford Health has renegotiated a contract to keep a nursing program open in Bismarck. The action comes after legislators introduced an amendment in the higher education budget that would not allow any state money or private funds to be spent on the program. NDSU took over the program three years ago but lawmakers have not been happy…
FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota lawmakers are considering cutting more than $1 million from state homeless shelter funding. It’s a big concern for a group dealing with homelessness in Downtown Fargo. Cody Schuler, a director at the FM Coalition for Homeless Persons, estimates a $250,000 loss from state funding of Fargo-Moorhead’s homeless shelters if lawmakers follow through with budget cuts. Schiler said…
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Republicans in the Minnesota state Senate are pursuing deep tax cuts over the next two years for students, families and those on Social Security. The almost $900 million sought in their just released bill directs over half of those breaks to individual taxes. The lowest tax bracket would shrink by over a quarter of a…
BISMARCK, N.D. — Beginning August 1st, 2017, it will be legal to carry a concealed handgun without a permit in North Dakota. Governor Burgum signed the controversial bill into law Thursday. Under the new law, people of the state who do not have a criminal record will be able to carry a concealed handgun if they have a valid state driver’s…
