north dakota legislature

Interstate speed limits mostly going up in North Dakota but down near some cities

Drivers in Fargo, North Dakota, on July 28, 2025, are warned about an $80 fine for speeding in a construction zone. Minimum fines for speeding in a construction zone increase to $150 on Aug. 1, 2025. Other speeding fines will increase, too. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota’s interstate speed limit is going up to…

North Dakota version of DOGE to take a slower approach to cost savings

Rep. Nathan Toman, R-Mandan, chair of the Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency, speaks during a subcommittee hearing of the Budget Section on June 25, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota’s version of DOGE is poised to begin work this week, but members say it won’t be just like the federal government version that…

North Dakota among the states reforming policies on sealing eviction records

An apartment complex advertises vacancies in a residential area of Bismarck. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Montior)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — When North Dakota state Sen. Ryan Braunberger first introduced a slate of tenant protection bills this year, he knew the odds of passage weren’t in his favor. Braunberger, a Democratic lawmaker in a Republican-controlled legislature who represents a renter-heavy district…

North Dakota medical marijuana program adding edibles, making eligibility changes

Cory Barthel, a staff member at Pure Dakota, a medical marijuana manufacturing and processor, trims a cannabis plant at the facility in Bismarck. (Contributed/Pure Dakota)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Changes to North Dakota’s medical marijuana program aimed at expanding program access and product options for patients are set to go into effect Aug. 1. The North Dakota Legislature passed a…

North Dakota lawmakers to hold hearing on security concerns after Minnesota attacks

Members of the Legislative Management Committee conduct a meeting at the Capitol on June 26, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota lawmakers plan to hold a security hearing with the North Dakota Highway Patrol and Capitol Security to discuss the safety concerns of legislators after Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark,…

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…