BISMARCK, N.D. – A plan by some members of the North Dakota Legislature to terminate a pandemic-related emergency declaration could discontinue food assistance to the state’s neediest residents. North Dakota and other states that have emergency orders in place have been getting additional money for food stamps under a package passed by Congress. If lawmakers end the emergency declaration, North…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – The North Dakota Senate has defeated a measure that would allow medical marijuana patients to grow their own plants. Edinburg Republican Sen. Janna Myrdal said the Senate Judiciary Committee gave the measure a unanimous “do not pass” recommendation, after law enforcement raised concerns. The bill’s main sponsor, Minot Sen. Ole Larsen, told the Senate that he…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – The North Dakota Senate Human Services Committee will hold hearings on three bills designed to help lower prescription costs. Two of the bills would allow North Dakota to buy medications wholesale from Canada. A third bill would use price data from the four most populous Canadian provinces to compare with U.S. drug prices, and set the…
BISMARCK (KVRR/KCND) – The North Dakota Senate has passed a bill to make not buckling up a “primary” offense. Right now, the law is a “secondary offense,” which means drivers must be stopped for another violation before the extra $25 is tacked on for not wearing a seat belt. Bismarck Republican Senator Mike Dwyer said law enforcement has been pleading…
BISMARCK, N.D. – A North Dakota lawmaker wants to ban the testing of wastewater for the coronavirus, saying the practice violates the privacy rights of college students. Republican Rep. Claire Cory introduced a bill that would prohibit wastewater testing “for genetic material or evidence of disease.” She says she brought the bill over concerns from people about wastewater testing tracing…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – A Fargo lawmaker has introduced a bill designed to help smaller retailers survive the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Democratic Rep. Pamela Anderson’s bill would allow retailers with 16 or fewer fulltime employees to keep the state sales tax they collect for 2021. The bill only applies to the 5% state-imposed sales tax, and does not…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – A legislative committee is looking at a bill to eliminate bails and arrest warrants for “low level” offenders, those who commit Class C felonies or misdemeanors. Supporters of the bill say some of the people who are accused of those lower-level crimes often can’t come up with the money to post bail and therefore have to…
BISMARCK, N.D. – Republican legislative leaders say a massive $1.1 billion bonding package that would finance infrastructure projects across North Dakota is being withdrawn and will be replaced by a far less costly proposal. Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner says a new proposal that would be at least $300 million less will be coming from the House. Wardner and House…
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – A West Fargo lawmaker has introduced a bill that would seal jail mugshots from the public. The bill, introduced by Republican Rep. Shannon Roers Jones, says “unless there is a compelling public safety interest warranting release, the booking photo of an inmate is a confidential record.” The booking photo could only be released if the suspect…
NORTH DAKOTA — People in North Dakota are trying to get legislature attention for a bill that would decrease the cost of insulin. The proposed bill would help by placing a cap of $25 on insulin charges for those in need of the medication. Outlined in the proposal the cost would only cover those with North Dakota insurance plans. Other…
