north dakota legislature

Fargo Theatre could receive state funds for restoration project

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) —  Fargo Theatre may see money coming its way, if a bill recently submitted into the legislature comes to pass. It would give the North Dakota Historical Society $1,100,000 to fund a restoration project of the historic theatre. The bill says that for every two dollars raised by the theatre, the state will donate one dollar. A…

Affordable housing plan in North Dakota draws broad support

Dion Schilling speaks during a committee hearing on homelessness on Jan. 21, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Advocates for low-income housing and people seeking to reduce homelessness lined up to testify Tuesday in favor of a bill that allocates $211 million to address North Dakota’s housing crisis. Senate Bill 2030 would provide: $200 million to the…

Bills on gender, conversion therapy debated by North Dakota lawmakers

Rep. Lori VanWinkle, R-Minot, speaks in favor of a bill to legalize conversion therapy at a House Human Services Committee meeting on Jan. 21, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A panel of lawmakers considered two bills Tuesday that could have sweeping impacts on LGBTQ rights in the state: one requiring North Dakota to recognize only…

House bill would make morning Pledge of Allegiance mandatory for all public schools

BISMARCK, N.D. — A bill in the North Dakota legislature would require public schools to hold the Pledge of Allegiance each morning. Currently, the decision to hold a morning pledge is up to individual school boards. HB 1222 would take the decision from school boards and make it a requirement of all public schools. It would also protect schools, faculty,…

North Dakota lawmakers discuss adding computer-generated images to definition of child pornography

Claire Ness, deputy attorney general, speaks during a committee hearing on Jan. 20, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Possessing a computer-generated image of child pornography would be punishable as a felony in North Dakota under a bill discussed Monday by state lawmakers. House Bill 1386 adds images created by artificial intelligence to state law prohibiting the possession of…

Rock stars: Bottineau geology students propose new North Dakota symbol

Students from Bottineau Public Schools’ Rockhounds club listen to testimony on a bill to make Knife River Flint North Dakota’s state rock during a meeting of the House Political Subdivisions Committee on Jan. 16, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota could be getting its first-ever state rock: a cola-colored stone called Knife River Flint….

Bill would let North Dakota state firefighters retire earlier

North Dakota Forest Service firefighters Hunter Noor, Jon Cooper and Logan Ripple provide aid in Craig, Colo., July 4, 2018. A bill under consideration by lawmakers would enhance the retirement benefits of state firefighters. (Provided by North Dakota Forest Service)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — State firefighters may soon be able to retire 10 years earlier as the North Dakota…

North Dakota Senate passes charitable gambling eligibility changes

An electronic pull tab machine, right, sits next to a prototype voucher redemption machine in the training center of the gaming division, part of the Office of the North Dakota Attorney General on Feb. 27, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota Senate voted 27-20 Thursday to pass a bill changing which organizations can…

Resolution proposes to change constitutional ballot measure vote threshold to 60%

A voter fills out a ballot at the Hillside Aquatic Complex in Bismarck on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Ballot measures to amend the North Dakota Constitution could have a steeper climb in the future. Members of the House Government and Veteran Affairs Committee held a public hearing on House Concurrent Resolution 3003 Thursday that…

North Dakota House kills bill to restore Sunday ‘Blue Law’

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR-Prairie Public) – A bill to reinstate part of North Dakota’s “Blue Law” has been soundly rejected by the House. The measure introduced by Bismarck Republican Representative Matthew Heilman would prohibit most stores from being open between the hours of 6 am and noon Sundays. There would be exemptions for certain businesses, such as gas stations and drug…