north dakota legislature

Lawmaker drops plan to pursue property tax ballot measure

Rep. Scott Louser, R-Minot, talks to a colleague in the House chamber on May 1, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A North Dakota lawmaker says he’ll no longer petition for a ballot measure to make the state fund 100% of the public school system after polling showed homeowners have mixed feelings about his…

North Dakota removes lawmaker addresses from website in response to shooting

North Dakota lawmakers participate in a Senate floor session on April 25, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota legislative support staff on Saturday wiped legislators’ home addresses from the Legislature’s website in response to the shootings of two lawmakers in Minnesota. John Bjornson, director of Legislative Council, said he made the decision Saturday morning hearing…

A.G. rules Armstrong’s line-item veto will stand, no special session needed

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — Attorney General Drew Wrigley rules that Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s line-item veto of a Senate bill will stand. That means no special session will be needed to fix the matter. The problem started when Armstrong vetoed $150,000 for a Native American-focused organization to fund a homelessness liaison position. But the veto also unintentionally crossed out a $35…

Drug maker sues over new North Dakota pharmaceutical law

BISMARCK (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota is being sued over a new law that requires drug manufacturers to sell more of their medications at a discount. House Bill 1473, signed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong in April, primarily affects drug companies participating in a federal program called 340B. A drug manufacturer has filed suit over the policy in North Dakota…

ND Ethics Commission has no authority to punish officials violating ethics laws, state leaders argue

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Ever since North Dakota voters created an ethics watchdog agency seven years ago, dubious lawmakers have pushed back against giving it power to actually keep an eye on state officials. That was true in the session that just ended, as legislators shut down many requests from the Ethics Commission, keeping the agency on a…

Republicans choose replacement for North Dakota legislator who resigned

State Rep. Kelby Timmons. (Photo provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A former North Dakota legislator will take over the seat of Rep. Jeremy Olson, who resigned abruptly after the 2025 session amid a harassment complaint. The District 26 Republicans on Saturday picked Kelby Timmons of Watford City to replace Olson. Timmons served with…

North Dakota Ethics Commission chair dies

North Dakota Ethics Commission Chair Dave Anderson listens during a commission meeting on Oct. 23, 2024, in Bismarck. The commission paid tribute to him May 27, 2025, a day after his death. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Ethics Commission Chair Dave Anderson died Monday at age 69, the commission announced at a Tuesday afternoon meeting. Anderson,…

North Dakota to require age verification for pornography sites

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota Legislature passed expanded regulations and penalties surrounding pornography and deepfake content during the 2025 session. Gov. Kelly Armstrong signed bills that added age-verification requirements for websites publishing explicit content. He also signed a bill that added civil penalties for the creation and distribution of deepfake, or computer-generated, pornographic material without a…

Veto mistake could lead to special session in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) – Lawmakers may be called back to Bismarck to correct a veto mistake in a housing incentive bill. Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s office says a line-item veto that was designed to take $150,000 dollars from affordable housing legislation instead eliminated $35 million. The $150,000 was intended for tribal communities but Armstrong says the state needs to find longer…

Republican Rep. Cindy Schreiber-Beck of Wahpeton Has Died at 70

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — Cindy Schreiber-Beck, a longtime state representative and leader in aviation and agriculture in North Dakota, died Sunday at the age of 70. The Republican was first elected to the House in 2014 and served District 25 in Wahpeton. She was on the agriculture committee and vice-chair of the education committee. Schreiber-Beck continued to operate Tri-State Aviation…