north dakota legislature

Pain relief or a problem? North Dakota lawmakers hear kratom debate

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Witnesses on Monday characterized the kratom plant as both as a dangerous and sometimes fatal drug and as a safe way to manage chronic pain and help people wean themselves off more dangerous opioids. The testimony on kratom came during a North Dakota House Judiciary Committee hearing on House Bill 1101, which would add mitragynine,…

North Dakota lawmakers work to refine which groups can conduct charitable gambling

Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, delivers remarks on charitable gambling during a public hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 13, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A bill under consideration by North Dakota lawmakers would restrict which organizations qualify to conduct charitable gambling. The discussion comes as electronic pull tab machines have proliferated in…

New bill would change plans for new state hospital into regional facilities

North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown.BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — A bill introduced in the state legislature would change how mental health is treated in the state but it runs in opposition to current plans by North Dakota Health and Human Services. The department is currently in phase 4 of it’s 5 phase plan to replace the state hospital with a…

North Dakota lawmakers role-play life after prison

Public officials participate in a reentry simulation hosted by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and nonprofits in Memorial Hall of the North Dakota State Capitol on Jan. 10, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — For one hour Friday morning, Rep. Eric Murphy, R-Grand Forks, was “Chelsea” — a formerly incarcerated woman trying to make ends…

North Dakota Legislature considering bill that would bring back blue laws

BISMARCK, N.D. — A bill being considered in North Dakota’s House of Representatives is seeking to bring blue laws back to the state. You may remember North Dakota’s blue laws, and how they were repealed in 2019. But if not – Blue Laws prohibit certain businesses from being open from midnight until noon on Sundays, which is considered the sabbath…

Gov. Armstrong Property Tax Proposal Introduced with Support of Legislative Leaders

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – A proposal for property tax reform unveiled this week by Gov. Kelly Armstrong appears to have strong support from legislative leaders. House Bill 1176, filed Thursday, contains the proposal introduced by Armstrong during his State of the State address. The bill would increase the primary residence tax credit and put most homeowners on a path toward…

North Dakota opens its legislative session with speeches and drinks from a 115-year-old punchbowl

Connie Armstrong, mother of North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong, serves punch from the punchbowl that is part of the 40-piece silver serving set purchased and made for the battleship USS North Dakota in 1910s, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Bismarck, N.D. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — If the speeches weren’t enough of a draw when the North Dakota…

Gov. Armstrong Proposes Path to Zero Property Taxes Within A Decade

By: Michael Achterling and Amy Dalrymple BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong unveiled a plan Tuesday that aims to eliminate property taxes for most homeowners within a decade. In his first State of the State address, the Republican also signaled support for education savings accounts and public charter schools, pledged to address overcrowded prisons and…

5 North Dakota stories to watch in 2025

Members of Legislative Management meet on Nov. 13, 2024. The North Dakota Legislature is expected to take action on property tax reform during the 2025 session. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota will ring in the new year with a lot of unfinished business from 2024. Many of the state’s biggest stories from last year…

$7.8 million needed for replacement of Capitol windows

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor/KVRR) — The North Dakota Legislature may be asked to provide more than $4 million to replace the windows at the Capitol in Bismarck, with the total project costing nearly twice that amount. The Capitol Grounds Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend moving forward with a $7.8 million window replacement project. The 21-story building has…