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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/.
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What happened today?
Rep. Jeff Hoverson (R-3) introduced his bill to FORCE every classroom (including college classrooms) to post the 10 Commandments to the House Judiciary Committee and goes as far as specifying the exact wording and size. Despite this, the example of what a poster could look like that Hoverson provided the committee didn't even match the language required by the bill. There was plenty of testimony on both sides, and the committee has not yet rendered a "DO PASS" or a "DO NOT PASS" recommendation.
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The bill that would have allowed the ND Ethics Commission to issue advisory opinions of its own volition failed on a near party-line vote. While this outcome isn't surprising, it is disappointing.
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What's coming up?
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Do you like having the ability to shop on Sunday mornings? Well, that might become illegal soon! On Wednesday, January 15 Rep. Matthew Heilman (R-7) will introduce a bill to bring back North Dakota's blue laws to the House Industry, Business and Labor Committee.
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Gov. Armstrong will address the Senate Appropriation committee tomorrow at 9:00 AM and will likely suggest state funds go toward Education Savings Accounts. This is a sneaky way to start directing public funds to private schools.
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Democratic-NPL Bills
Rep. LaurieBeth Hager (D-21) will introduce HB 1108 which would allow HHS to contract with mental health and substance use disorder providers in border states for folks on parole or probation. This is currently prohibited.
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Sen. Tim Mathern (D-11) will introduce two bills: SB 2094 regarding workers' compensation and SB 2099 regarding cardiac arrest prevention and education for student athletes and coaches.
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Supreme Court upholds North Dakota’s majority-Native legislative subdistricts
“I’m glad that it’s finally been resolved,” said Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation who represents one of the subdistricts. “It’s very important that we’re able to represent our needs at the table.”
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The lawsuit, brought by two non-Native North Dakota residents, alleged that the subdistricts are racial gerrymanders — meaning the Legislature established them based predominantly on the racial makeup of their communities, rather than looking at other criteria like geography, population size or the political interests of residents. The plaintiffs argued the Legislature relied heavily on anecdotal evidence, not legitimate research, when it created the districts.
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North Dakota lawmakers work to refine which groups can conduct charitable gambling
The committee voted 5-2 to advance the bill with a do-pass recommendation. Sen. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, and Sen. Ryan Braunberger, D-Fargo, voted against the bill.
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Underserved rural communities targeted in legislative proposal
For Sen. Mathern, it aims to preserve a “rural value system” that’s being eroded as smaller communities dwindle due to a range of pushes and pulls.
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“These smaller communities just don’t have the resources to develop programs to serve people so that they want to stay there,” Mathern said. “I think we need to keep rural North Dakota alive for the values base that people develop there, and that serves everybody.”
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Letter: The Ten Commandments bill is creating an issue from nothing
This would be another unfunded mandate for the schools and universities. The Legislature is supposed to be tackling property taxes, but now this bill wants to force school districts to find more money in tight budgets to post the Ten Commandments.
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Judge limits scope of lawsuit over North Dakota gender-affirming care law
Casas and three North Dakota families with transgender children sued the state over the law in September 2023. In their complaint, the group argued the ban violates health care freedoms and discriminates against children with gender dysphoria by denying them treatment available to kids with other medical conditions. The plaintiffs also claimed that the law is unconstitutionally vague and leaves medical providers vulnerable to prosecution because it does not sufficiently explain when its exemptions apply.
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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.
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Senate Standing Committee Members
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Monday through Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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House Standing Committee Members
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
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Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
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Meets Monday through Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
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Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
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Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
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Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
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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.
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Help us elect great Democrats up and down the ballot!
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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.
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Grassroots organizers are the lifeblood of the Dem-NPL! Sign up to volunteer with the Dem-NPL!
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