BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – The North Dakota House has passed an amended version of a bill that would require grade school and high school athletes to compete in sports according to their birth gender. That’s how the House originally passed HB 1298. The Senate made it into a study. But in conference committee, the House language was added back, and…
BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota’s Republican-led Senate has endorsed a measure that would prohibit the state mandating face coverings. Senators approved the bill Wednesday, but amended it to give local governments, schools and employers the option of requiring masks. The measure now goes back to the House for review of the Senate amendment. Bill sponsor GOP Rep. Jeff Hoverson and…
BISMARCK, N.D. – Budget writers in the Republican-controlled North Dakota House want to derail legislation to save a troubled shipping facility. The move comes after criticism that the move was a bailout for banks, including one owned by GOP U.S. Sen. John Hoeven. Five Minot-area lawmakers sponsored the legislation for the intermodal shipping facility that sought to provide $8.2 million…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – Gov. Doug Burgum has vetoed a bill that would have allowed the Legislature to introduce, consider and vote on bills in the December organizational session, just as they would during the regular session. In his veto message to the Speaker of the House, Burgum said the measure attempts to “circumvent the Constitution.” Burgum said Article IV…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – The North Dakota House has passed a bill to allow liquor sales on Sundays to begin at 8 a.m. Right now, bars, restaurants and liquor stores can’t sell alcohol until 11 a.m. The measure passed 49 to 41, despite the “do not pass” recommendation from the House Judiciary Committee. The bill was approved earlier in the…
BISMARCK, N.D. – Some North Dakota senators have amended a transgender sports bill to make the legislation apply only to high school teams and not to college or club sports. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday voted 6-1 in favor of an amended version of a House bill passed last month. The amended bill would prohibit a publicly funded school…
BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota legislators want a raise for the second straight session. The proposed pay boost for lawmakers is 1.5% in the first year of the two-year budget cycle and 2% in the second. The increase is equal to the level of raises for state employees and elected statewide public officials. Lawmakers are paid $518 a month, plus…
BISMARCK, N.D. – A replacement representative for the seat of a North Dakota lawmaker expelled has been named. District 36 Republicans’ executive committee unanimously appointed Dori Hauck, of rural Richardton. She is a rancher, writer and music teacher, and has served as the secretary-treasurer for the district party since 2012. Hauck succeeds former representative Luke Simons, whom the House expelled…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) – Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski told North Dakota lawmakers Thursday that he strongly supports a bill that would increase penalties for drug dealers if someone dies from the sale of their drugs. Zibolski said drug overdoses increased dramatically from 36 in 2018 to 91 in 2020, including 18 deaths last year. So far this year, Fargo…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – Former Dickinson Republican State Representative Luke Simons won’t go to court over his expulsion from the Legislature. In a statement, Simons said if he were to take the matter to the state Supreme Court, it would take weeks for a decision – and as he put it, “The only way I can immediately correct this injustice…
