north dakota legislature

North Dakota lawmakers build wish list for $500M federal rural health care grant

Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, and Legislative Council budget analyst Allen Knudson listen to a presentation on the Rural Health Transformation Program on Oct. 14, 2025. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A committee of North Dakota lawmakers this week began sifting through an ocean of recommendations for how to spend a $500 million federal rural…

Enrollment up nearly 4% at North Dakota public colleges, universities

Emily Thompson, director of the legal division for Legislative Council, speaks during a committee meeting on Sept. 23, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota lawmakers approved draft legislation Tuesday that aims to clarify how legislators respond when a governor vetoes bills after a legislative session concludes. The move comes after confusion involving…

Federal megalaw to reduce state tax collections in North Dakota

Matt Peyerl, associate director for tax administration with the North Dakota Tax Department, speaks to the Legislature’s interim Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee on Sept. 23, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota Tax Department estimates the state’s income tax collections will take a sizable hit as a result of federal…

Homelessness increases in North Dakota as population, housing costs also rise

Jennifer Henderson, director of planning and housing development for the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency, speaks to lawmakers about homelessness during a committee hearing on Sept. 4, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — People experiencing homelessness in North Dakota are increasing as the state’s population continues to grow and affordable housing, shelters and resources…

Company selected to lay groundwork for nuclear power in North Dakota

Sen. Tim Mathern, right, D-Fargo, and Rep. SuAnn Olson, left, R-Baldwin, participate in an Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee meeting Sept. 3, 2025. (Photo by Jacob Orledge/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A North Dakota interim legislative committee has selected Nucleon Energy, a Canadian development company, to chart the state’s path to a nuclear-powered future. The Alberta-based nuclear development…

Ethics Commission highlights time management in annual report

Rebecca Binstock, left, executive director of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, Logan Carpenter, center, general counsel for the Ethics Commission, and Alisha Maier, right, operations manager for the Ethics Commission, listen during a committee hearing on Jan. 31, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A new report shows that Ethics Commission complaints that don’t…

Early work underway to establish public charter schools in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota won’t see any charter schools open this year, but state education officials are busy behind the scenes laying the groundwork for next year. Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2241 during the 2025 session that authorized public charter schools in North Dakota, leaving South Dakota, Nebraska and Vermont as the only states without a…

Higher education board chair favors keeping interim leader of North Dakota colleges

Tim Mihalick, right, chairs a North Dakota State Board of Higher Education meeting in Bismarck on May 29, 2025. Next to Mihalick is interim chancellor Brent Sanford. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The chair of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education said Thursday that he will propose giving interim Chancellor Brent Sanford…

New legislative committee seeks to advance solutions for strained rural emergency services

Firefighters from the West Fargo Rural Fire Department take part in a fire safety demonstration on Sept. 10, 2024, in West Fargo, North Dakota. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota fire departments and ambulance services are understaffed and facing financial constraints while at the same time responding to more calls and serving large…

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribe hosts North Dakota officials

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Chair J. Garret Renville speaks Aug. 19, 2025, to the North Dakota Tribal and State Relations Committee at Dakota Magic Casino near Hankinson, North Dakota. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)HANKINSON, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Members of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribal nation met Tuesday with North Dakota officials and legislators, an event the tribal chair said “demonstrates…