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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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The North Dakota Legislative Session is fast-paced and every bill gets a vote unless it's withdrawn. Are there bills you want to know more about or bills that you are following that you think should get more attention? Please let us know!
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What happened today?
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Rep. SuAnn Olson (R-8) has a bill (HB 1181) that says any reference to gender, gender identity, or gender expression, would mean the individual's determined sex at birth in the ND Century Code. If there is a dispute over someone's sex, the bill would FORCE an individual to undergo a DNA test. During the hearing, Reps. Gretchen Dobervich (D-11) and Jayme Davis (D-9) asked some excellent questions about the costs of this bill both to the taxpayer and for the government-mandated DNA test it will impose.
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Dobervich and Davis also had valuable questions about Rep. Lori VanWinkle's (R-3) bill (HB 1430). Social Workers would theoretically have the ability under North Dakota law to violate the Social Worker Code of Ethics in regard to conversion therapy if this bill passed.
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Democratic-NPL Bills
Rep. Karla Rose Hanson introduced her bill (HB 1438) for a state historical society for a historic theater restoration grant program to the House Industry, Business and Labor Committee. It got a DO PASS recommendation and will move on to the House Appropriations Committee.
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What's coming up?
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Democratic-NPL Bills
Rep. Gretchen Dobervich will introduce HB 1433 which would create and fund a Dementia Response Program. She will also introduce HB 1252 which seeks to provide Tribal Nations with the opportunity to utilize certain funds they already receive "for capital construction projects with no mandated percentage or time frame to honor tribal sovereignty and respect that the mechanics of the process of obtaining signed care coordination agreements and collecting and redistributing the funds did not fall within the prescribed window of time for capital construction to be realized."
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Letter: The people of North Dakota deserve better
HCR 3003 undermines the principle of majority rule, allowing a smaller group to veto initiatives favored by most voters. Meaning if 41% of the voters oppose a measure they would effectively veto the wishes of the other 59%- putting the interest of the few over that of the many.
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As a reminder, Measure 2 attempted to eliminate majority rule by requiring citizens to vote twice on a measure before it could become law. It was soundly rejected at the ballot box by 56%.
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North Dakota lawmakers discuss adding computer-generated images to definition of child pornography
Possessing a computer-generated image of child pornography would be punishable as a felony in North Dakota under a bill discussed Monday by state lawmakers.
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House Bill 1386 adds images created by artificial intelligence to state law prohibiting the possession of child pornography.
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North Dakota bill sparks debate over displaying the Ten Commandments in schools
Cody Schuler, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union, said many students in North Dakota practice different religious beliefs, and they may openly discuss them in school already. State law also gives school boards the ability to post the Ten Commandments in their classrooms already, he said.
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However, under House Bill 1145, posting the Ten Commandments “would be not only endorsed by the school, it would be endorsed by the state, it would be the state showing preference to a particular religious tradition,” Schuler said.
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Port: Bill seeks to bring back conversion therapy aimed at turning LGBTQ people heterosexual
Conversion therapy is predicated on religious doctrine, not research and fact. It's one thing to believe that homosexuality (or being transgender, etc.) is wrong on a moral level, however you or I might feel about that, but another thing entirely to treat it in a professional therapeutic environment as though it were a disease.
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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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