north dakota legislature

Legislators hear testimony on second bill that would affect approval voting in Fargo

BISMARCK, N.D. — There are now two bills being debated in the North Dakota Legislature that would end the practice of approval voting in Fargo. KVRR News reported on HB 1297 last week. That bill would ban approval and ranked choice voting in the state. HB 1307 would make home charter rules that conflict with state laws null and void….

Abortion could be considered murder under fetal personhood proposal in North Dakota

A crowd listens to Ginna Cross, an out-of-state anti-abortion advocate, testify in favor of a bill to define a human being to include an unborn child on Feb. 5, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota lawmakers are weighing whether to allow women who obtain abortions to be charged with murder. House Bill 1373, referred…

Trio of bills addresses justice reform, crowded North Dakota jails

Exterior of the North Dakota State Penitentiary on Feb. 4, 2025. Bills under consideration by state lawmakers aim to address crowding at state prisons and jails. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — When parole and probation officers have to try to collect fees from people on supervised release, “it puts both parties in a difficult situation,” said…

Legislative hearing at North Dakota State Penitentiary highlights rehabilitation programs

Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee Human Resource Division hold a hearing at the North Dakota State Penitentiary on Feb. 4, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — There was a podium with a microphone and a sign-in sheet, just like any other legislative committee hearing. A key difference Tuesday was the series of seven locked doors…

North Dakota tribal leaders seek to restore vehicle tax exemption

Lonna Jackson-Street, chair of the Spirit Lake Nation, speaks during a summit between state and tribal leaders on June 25, 2024. She testified last week in support of a bill that seeks to restore a motor vehicle excise tax exemption for tribal citizens. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A bill in the North Dakota House seeks…

Charter school bill narrowly fails in North Dakota House; Senate considers similar bill

Rep. Eric Murphy, R-Grand Forks, speaks on the House floor before a vote to reconsider his bill on public charter schools on Feb. 3, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A bill to establish public charter schools narrowly failed in the North Dakota House, but a similar proposal is being vetted by the Senate. House lawmakers…

Lawmakers consider expanding North Dakota tax credit that benefits seniors

Rep. Craig Headland, R-Montpelier, chair of the House Finance and Taxation Committee talks with vice chair, Rep. Jared Hagert, R-Emerado, before a public hearing on property tax reform on Jan. 14, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — House Bill 1335 would broaden North Dakotans’ eligibility for what is called the homestead property tax credit, which reduces or eliminates…

Hearing set Monday on bill that would provide free school meals for North Dakota students

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Universal free school meals are the focus of two bills in the North Dakota Legislature, with one set for a hearing on Monday. Both bipartisan bills call for using state funds to pay for the cost of providing free breakfasts and lunches to all students. These bills would offer the free meals regardless of…

Bill would end approval voting in Fargo

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Legislature discussed a bill on Thursday that would end approval voting for Fargo city elections. The bill is similar to another bill passed last session that was vetoed by then Governor Doug Burgum. If passed, HB 1297 would ban approval voting and ranked choice voting for elected officials in the state. Currently, Fargo is…

North Dakota bill would require teaching of intelligent design in schools

BISMARCK, N.D. — A new senate bill would require North Dakota public schools to include Intelligent Design in their science classes. SB 2355 says that the Superintendent of Public Instruction would be responsible for adding intelligent design to the state’s science content standards for elementary, middle, and high school students by August 1, 2027. They would also have to provide…