|
|
|
During the 69th Legislative Assembly, North Dakota Democratic-NPL Insider will provide updates and calls to action each day of the regular session. If you would like to have something added to the newsletter, email us at [email protected]. Spread the word of our newsletter by sharing our sign-up link today: https://demnpl.com/join-our-newsletter/.
|
|
|
|
|
|
What happened today?
Protect our Public Schools!
|
Sen. Michelle Axtman’s (R-7) bill (SB 2241) to make charter schools legal in North Dakota had a hearing today. 25% of charter schools close within 5 years of opening. Our tax dollars shouldn’t be diverted from traditional public schools (especially rural schools). Tell your Representatives to vote no!
|
|
|
|
LGBTQ+ Rights
|
Conversion therapy violates the Social Workers Code of Ethics, but the ND legislature seems to think they can supersede this code of ethics by passing Rep. Lori VanWinkle’s (R-3) bill (HB 1430) saying conversion therapy is "not unethical." This bill had a hearing in the Senate Human Services Committee.
|
|
|
|
Democratic-NPL Bills
Rep. Zac Ista’s (D-43) bill (HB 1238) to shorten the number of years a teacher needs to teach to qualify for a lifetime license and Rep. Mary Schneider’s (D-21) resolution (HCR 3005) to encourage Congress to include the names of the members of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans on the Vietnam Memorial Wall both passed the Senate unanimously!
|
Sen. Ryan Braunberger’s (D-10) bill (SB 2262) which would allow the kindergarten through grade twelve coordination council to enter contracts for educational research received a hearing in the House Education Committee. It received a DO PASS recommendation, and will move to the House Appropriations Committee.
|
Sen. Kathy Hogan's (D-21) bill (SB 2281) to raise the cigarette and cigar tax, include vaping products in this tax, and allocate funds local public health units who are actively involved in monitoring youth smoking and 988 suicide prevention and intervention services had a hearing in the House Finance and Taxation committee, but it received a DO NOT PASS recommendation.
|
Rep. Mary Schneider’s (D-21) bill (HB 1529), which would qualify former Peace Corps volunteers for in-state tuition at North Dakota’s colleges and universities, was heard in the Senate Education Committee.
|
Rep. Gretchen Dobervich’s (D-11) bill (HB 1217) to decriminalize HIV had a hearing in the Senate Human Services Committee.
|
What's Coming Up?
|
LGBTQ+ Rights
|
Rep. Bill Tviet's (R-33) resolution (HCR 3013) to urge the United States Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, to change the definition of marriage to a union between one man and one woman has a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow, Wednesday, March 12 at 3:15 PM.
|
|
|
|
Democratic-NPL Bills
Rep. Jayme Davis’ (D-9) bill (HB 1564) to update North Dakota's Indian Child Welfare law has a hearing in the Senate Human Services Committee at 10:45 AM.
|
Sen. Ryan Braunberger’s (D-10) bill (SB 2238) to seal court records relating to the eviction proceedings seven years after the order for eviction has been satisfied has a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee at 11:00 AM
|
|
Sen. Kathy Hogan's (D-21) bill (SB 2282) for an income tax credit for child care contributions provided by qualified employers has a hearing in the House Finance and Taxation Committee at 10:00 AM. Her bill (SB 2305) to continue a family paid caregiver service program and the cross-disability advisory council has a hearing in the House Human Services Committee at 3:15.
|
|
Follow Along!
|
Did you know you can watch along with these hearings or watch them later on your own time?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
|
|
|
|
|
Port: Over 100 attorneys sign letter protesting North Dakota state bar distancing itself from LGBTQ seminar
|
"SBAND advertises and maintains CLE webinars on a variety of topics for the benefit of its members," the letter continues. "We are deeply concerned with SBAND taking a political stance pursuant to a Federal Executive Order by removing a CLE aimed at serving the legal needs of LGBTQ+ North Dakotans. This type of CLE is no different than one aimed at serving the needs of the poor, the disabled, or other underserved groups."
|
Among the signatories of the letter are some prominent names, including former U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, state ethics commissioner Murray Sagsveen, former U.S. House candidate Cara Mund, former U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider, former U.S. Attorney Tim Purdon and current state House Minority Leader Rep. Zac Ista.
|
|
|
|
Vern Thompson shares how the Canada tariffs impact the trucking industry
Joel Heitkamp is joined on "News and Views" by Vern Thompson. Vern previously served in the North Dakota State Legislature, and now is in the trucking industry. He brings his perspective as a trucker that travels to and from Canada on a daily basis, and how the tariffs have impacted his industry.
|
|
|
|
Letter: The Waste Emissions Charge ensures that worst polluters pay
|
The Waste Emissions Charge is not a burden on responsible companies — it simply ensures that the worst polluters pay for their waste. Those who meet industry standards won’t be charged a penny. Rolling back this policy would be a gift to corporations at the expense of our health and environment.
|
I urge our members of Congress to reject these reckless efforts to dismantle a critical safeguard.
|
|
|
|
Dissing Agreements
Donald Trump confusing transgenic with transgender in a public speech would be comedic gold in a political sitcom, but it’s a lead balloon in an environment of constant attacks on trans people and other marginalized communities. It’s downright dismaying amid the cheering and derisive laughter of Congressional Republicans who automatically embrace the lie as fact. It is aggravating to hear it and know that it is stupidly false, and that Trump and his stooges will double down on it at least three times before the cock crows.
|
|
|
|
Nutritious school meals are essential for learning
The overwhelming public support shows North Dakotans believe every child deserves to be nourished and ready to learn. The Together for School Meals coalition remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring every child in North Dakota has access to healthy, nutritious meals at school. We call on lawmakers to find a way forward and pass a free school meals policy this legislative session.
|
|
|
|
North Dakota lawmakers consider tougher penalties for child custody violations
"I'm not aware of any other place in law where we take a civil order and then say that violating it is now some sort of criminal offense," said Stephanie Engrebretson, an attorney representing the Chiefs of Police Association. "It's incredibly problematic to put law enforcement in that position of trying to make determinations on these incredibly fact-specific situations."
|
|
|
|
|
Check out these posts from the national Democratic Party
|
|
|
|
|
USDA cuts more than $1bn in local food purchases for schools, food banks
|
The USDA had announced $1.13bn in funding for both of the programs this past December. State officials learned of the cuts on Friday.
|
|
They come as Donald Trump’s second presidential administration has aggressively cut federal spending and imposed tariffs, which collectively have forced food organizations and farmers to cut staff as well as halt investments.
|
Food banks have already been seeing demands due to rising food prices, and Republicans in Congress are pushing to make significant cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap).
|
|
|
|
Pregnant federal employees who were fired grapple with stress of losing insurance and looking for work
"It’s not like I could just say, ‘Oh, well, fine, I’ll just go get another job.’ I’m visibly pregnant. Nobody would ever hire me in their right mind, even though it’s discrimination," she said. "But we live in reality, right? They would not hire me, and plus, I would need to have time off. My baby is due April 17."
|
|
|
|
A Timeline of Trump’s Trade Wars Between U.S., Canada, Mexico, and China
March 11, 2025
Bloomberg reports cast doubt on the predicted shift to higher corn crops, citing the trade wars with Canada and the subsequent rise in fertilizer prices — which could lead farmers to lean more towards soybeans in the 2025 growing season.
|
|
|
|
Trump raises Canadian steel, aluminum tariffs to 50% in retaliation for Ontario energy duties
Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs on Canada and Mexico have inflamed tensions with both U.S. neighbors. But they have stoked special ire in Canada, where movements have sprung up to boycott U.S. products and political leaders have forcefully denounced Trump’s trade war.
|
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau directly accused Trump of trying to weaken his country in order to make it easier to “annex,” referring to Trump’s repeated calls to make Canada the 51st state.
|
|
|
|
Committees
|
Every bill is voted on in the North Dakota legislature, but first, it must go through a committee hearing. The committee will vote to give the bill a "Do Pass" or a "Do Not Pass" recommendation. Below is a list of Standing Committees this legislative session.
|
|
|
|
Senate Standing Committee Members
|
|
|
|
Meets Thursday and Friday
|
|
Meets Monday through Friday
|
|
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
|
|
Meets Thursday and Friday
|
Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)
|
|
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
|
|
|
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
|
Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)
|
|
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
|
|
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
|
|
Meets Thursday and Friday
|
|
Meets Thursday and Friday
|
|
Meets Thursday and Friday
|
|
|
|
House Standing Committee Members
|
|
|
|
Meets Thursday and Friday
|
|
Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
|
|
Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
|
|
Meets Monday through Friday
|
|
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
|
|
Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
|
|
Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
|
|
Meets Thursday and Friday
|
|
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
|
|
Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
|
|
|
Meets Thursday and Friday
|
|
Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
|
|
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
|
|
Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
|
|
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
|
|
Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
|
|
Meets Thursday and Friday
|
|
Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
|
|
Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
|
|
Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
|
|
Meets Thursday and Friday
|
|
Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Century Club supports our year-round work to build party infrastructure supporting candidate recruitment, local district and regional leadership, issue-based education, and tools for Dem-NPL success.
|
|
|
|
|
Help us elect great Democrats up and down the ballot!
|
|
|
|
|
The North Dakota Democratic-NPL is launching a new grassroots program called “Neighbor to Neighbor” where volunteers will connect with voters in your community to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. As a volunteer, you will be responsible for connecting with voters in 25 homes in your neighborhood or friends and family to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot about 3-4 times this year.
|
|
|
|
Grassroots organizers are the lifeblood of the Dem-NPL! Sign up to volunteer with the Dem-NPL!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
