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?

Neither the House nor the Senate gaveled in, but many committees met for the first time today!

What's coming up?

Check the official ND Legislative Calendar
  • The next "Legislative Day" is January 10, but there will be many committee hearings tomorrow
  • Over 1,000 bills have been filed so far, some of which are already available to look at on the Official ND Legislative Website.

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

Agriculture and Veterans Affairs
Meets Thursday and Friday
Richard Marcellais (D-9)
Larry Luick (R-35)
Janne Myrdal (R-19)
Randy D. Lemm (R-20)
Mark F. Weber (R-22)
Kent Weston (R-15)

Appropriations
Meets Monday through Friday
Tim Mathern (D-11)
Brad Bekkedahl (R-1)
Robert Erbele (R-28)
Randy A. Burckhard (R-5)
Sean Cleary (R-35)
Cole Conley (R-12)
Kyle Davison (R-41)
Dick Dever (R-32)
Michael Dwyer (R-47)
Jeffery J. Magrum (R-8)
Scott Meyer (R-18)
Donald Schaible (R-31)
Jonathan Sickler (R-17)
Ronald Sorvaag (R-45)
Paul J. Thomas (R-6)
Terry M. Wanzek (R-29)

Education
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Josh Boschee (D-44)
Todd Beard (R-23)
Randy D. Lemm (R-20)
Michelle Axtman (R-7)
Justin Gerhardt (R-34)
Mike Wobbema (R-24)

Energy and Natural Resources
Meets Thursday and Friday
Dale Patten (R-26)
Greg Kessel (R-39)
Todd Beard (R-23)
Keith Boehm (R-33)
Mark Enget (R-2)
Justin Gerhardt (R-34)
Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)

Finance and Taxation
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Richard Marcellais (D-9)
Mark F. Weber (R-22)
Dean Rummel (R-39)
Dale Patten (R-26)
Michelle Powers (R-46)
Chuck Walen (R-4)
Human Services
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Kathy Hogan (D-21)
Judy Lee (R-13)
Kent Weston (R-15)
David A. Clemens (R-16)
Kristin Roers (R-27)
Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)

Industry and Business
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Jeff Barta (R-43)
Keith Boehm (R-33)
Mark Enget (R-2)
Greg Kessel (R-39)
Jerry Klein (R-14)

Judiciary
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Ryan Braunberger (D-10)
Diane Larson (R-30)
Bob Paulson (R-3)
Jose L. Castaneda (R-40)
Claire Cory (R-42)
Larry Luick (R-25)
Janne Myrdal (R-19)

State and Local Government
Meets Thursday and Friday
Ryan Braunberger (D-10)
Kristin Roers (R-27)
Jose L. Castaneda (R-40)
Jeff Barta (R-43)
Judy Lee (R-13)
Chuck Walen (R-4)

Transportation
Meets Thursday and Friday
Kathy Hogan (D-21)
David A. Clemens (R-16)
Claire Cory (R-42)
Jerry Klein (R-14)
Bob Paulson (R-3)
Dean Rummel (R-37)

Workforce Development
Meets Thursday and Friday
Josh Boschee (D-44)
Mike Wobbema (R-24)
Michelle Axtman (R-7)
Diane Larson (R-30)
Michelle Powers (R-46)

House Standing Committee Members

Agriculture
Meets Thursday and Friday
Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
Mike Beltz (R-20)
Dori Hauck (R-36)
Karen A. Anderson (R-19)
Donna Henderson (R-15)
Dawson Holle (R-31)
Jeff Hoverson (R-3)
Dwight Kiefert (R-24)
Dennis Nehring (R-23)
SuAnn Olson (R-8)
Nico Rios (R-23)
Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
Bill Tveit (R-33)
Daniel R. Vollmer (R-6)

Appropriations
Meets Monday through Friday
Karla Rose Hanson (D-44)
Alisa Mitskog (D-25)
Don Vigesaa (R-29)
Keith Kempenich (R-39)
Bert Anderson (R-2)
Mike Berg (R-8)
Glenn Bosch (R-30)
Mike Brandenburg (R-28)
Jay Fisher (R-5)
Scott Louser (R-5)
Bob Martinson (R-35)
Lisa Meier (R-32)
David Monson (R-19)
Eric J. Murphy (R-43)
Mike Nathe (R-30)
Jon O. Nelson (R-14)
Emily O'Brien (R-42)
Brandy L. Pyle (R-22)
David Richter (R-1)
Mark Sanford (R-17)
Gregory Stemen (R-27)
Steve Swiontek (R-10)
Scott Wagner (R-45)

Education
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Liz Conmy (D-11)
LaurieBeth Hager (D-21)
Pat D. Heinert (R-32)
Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
Matthew Heilman (R-7)
Jim Jonas (R-13)
Donald W. Longmuir (R-2)
Roger A. Maki (R-26)
Andrew Marschall (R-16)
Desiree Morton (R-46)
Anna S. Novak (R-33)
Doug Osowski (R-42)

Energy and Natural Resources
Meets Thursday and Friday
Liz Conmy (D-11)
Austin Foss (D-44)
Todd Porter (R-34)
Dick Anderson (R-6)
Anna S. Novak (R-33)
Jason Dockter (R-7)
Jared C. Hagert (R-20)
Craig Headland (R-29)
Pat D. Heinert (R-32)
Jorin Johnson (R-41)
Andrew Marschall (R-16)
Jeremy L. Olson (R-26)
Matthew Ruby (R-40)

Finance and Taxation
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Austin Foss (D-44)
Zachary Ista (D-43)
Craig Headland (R-29)
Jared C. Hagert (R-20)
Dick Anderson (R-6)
Jason Dockter (R-7)
Ty Dressler (R-36)
Jim Grueneich (R-28)
Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
Dennis Nehring (R-23)
Jeremy L. Olson (R-26)
Todd Porter (R-34)
Vicky Steiner (R-37)
Nathan Toman (R-34)
Government and Veterans Affairs
Meets Thursday and Friday
Collette Brown (D-9)
Mary Schneider (D-21)
Austen Schauer (R-13)
Bernie Satrom (R-12)
Landon Bahl (R-17)
Josh Christy (R-27)
Karen Grindberg (R-41)
Karen Karls (R-25)
Carrie McLeod (R-45)
Karen M. Rohr (R-31)
Vicky Steiner (R-37)
Lori VanWinkle (R-3)
Steve Vetter (R-18)
Christina Wolff (R-38)

Human Services
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Jayme Davis (D-9)
Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
Matthew Ruby (R-40)
Kathy Frelich (R-15)
Karen A. Anderson (R-19)
Mike Beltz (R-20)
Macy Bolinske (R-40)
Clayton Fegley (R-4B)
Jared Hendrix (R-10)
Dawson Holle (R-31)
Dwight Kiefert (R-24)
Nico Rios (R-23)
Karen M. Rohr (R-31)

Industry, Business and Labor
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Collette Brown (D-9)
Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
Jonathan Warrey (R-22)
Jorin Johnson (R-41)
Mitch Ostlie (R-12)
Landon Bahl (R-17)
Josh Christy (R-27)
Karen Grindberg (R-41)
Jim Kasper (R-46)
Ben Koppelman (R-16)
Dan Ruby (R-38)
Mike Schatz (R-39)
Austen Schauer (R-13)
Daniel R. Vollmer (R-6)

Judiciary
Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Mary Schneider (D-21)
Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
Karen Karls (R-35)
Steve Vetter (R-18)
Nels Christianson (R-18)
Donna Henderson (R-15)
Jeff Hoverson (R-3)
Daniel Johnston (R-24)
Carrie McLeod (R-45)
SuAnn Olson (R-8)
Bernie Satrom (R-12)
Bill Tveit (R-33)
Lori VanWinkle (R-3)
Christina Wolff (R-38)

Political Subdivisions
Meets Thursday and Friday
Jayme Davis (D-9)
LaurieBeth Hager (D-21)
Donald W. Longmuir (R-2)
Clayton Fegley (R-4B)
Jim Jonas (R-13)
Macy Bolinske (R-40)
Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
Matthew Heilman (R-7)
Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
Mitch Ostlie (R-12)
Nathan Toman (R-34)
Jonathan Warrey (R-22)

Transportation
Meets Thursday and Friday
Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
Dan Ruby (R-38)
Jim Grueneich (R-28)
Nels Christianson (R-18)
Ty Dressler (R-36)
Kathy Frelich (R-15)
Jared Hendrix (R-10)
Daniel Johnston (R-24)
Jim Kasper (R-46)
Ben Koppelman (R-16)
Roger A. Maki (R-26)
Desiree Morton (R-46)
Doug Osowski (R-42)
Mike Schatz (R-39)

Nick Archuleta Discusses Recent Poll of North Dakotans


North Dakotans told a pollster in December they favor property tax reforms, universal free school lunches and increased public education funding as the Legislature is set to convene its 2025 session. Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, joins Joel Heitkamp to discuss the results of their poll.

Listen Now

Josh Boschee: Kicking off my first day on the Senate Education Committee


Some key takeaways for me so far:
- we currently serve 130,000 students in public schools, non-public schools and homeschooling
- while the Department was appropriated $2.9B for the 2023-24 biennium, $2.8B of that is passed on to local school districts for them to implement their educational system

Read More

Tribune editorial: Legislators need to solve prison issues


Since July 2023 the penitentiary in Bismarck has been over capacity. Some county jails have waiting lists for prisoners. Cass County is working on a proposal to temporarily house some prisoners in the Clay County Jail in neighboring Moorhead, Minnesota.

Read More

Governor Armstrong tackles property tax reform, relief in State of the State Address


Democrats say they’re happy to see property taxes at the forefront but also want to make sure renters see some benefit as well.

“I live in a highly-rented district, so I want to make sure that we’re not just giving money back to landlords either and the money is not being contributed down to our renters as well,” said Sen. Ryan Braunberger, D-Fargo.

Watch Now

North Dakota lawmakers to consider bill capping price of insulin


The bill received recommendation from the interim Employee Benefits Programs Committee and was introduced by the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee.
“This is a very positive move for persons who need this kind of care, and it’s a very positive thing for our society,” said Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, the lead sponsor of the 2023 version of the bill.

Read More

Letter: School vouchers undermine public education


One of the hallmarks of living in North Dakota is access to some of the best public schools in the nation. Diverting funds from the public school system would mean less money to pay teachers, leading to bigger class sizes and less resources for students. And our public schools are already stretched thin.

Read More

Shaw: Conflicts of interest, free school lunches and other thoughts


Most senators have failed to learn from the case of Rep. Jason Dockter, R-Bismarck . Dockter was convicted of a misdemeanor conflict of interest because he profited from budget bills that he voted for. The message from the Senate now is they would rather benefit from legislation, than declare a conflict of interest and not vote.

Read More
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