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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The North Dakota Legislative Session is fast-paced and every bill gets a vote unless it's withdrawn.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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Democratic-NPL Bills
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Sen. Ryan Braunberger’s bill (SB 2238) to seal court records relating to the eviction proceedings seven years after order for eviction has been satisfied passed the Senate.
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Sen. Kathy Hogan’s bill (SB 2360) calling for a legislative study of geothermal energy passed the Senate. Her bill (SB 2306) to establish a child care workforce recruitment and retention program unfortunately did not pass.
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Sen. Josh Boschee (D-44) presented SB 2377 to ensure that a preferred provider arrangement may not restrict a covered person from receiving additional dental care services that were denied due to annual, lifetime, or frequency limitations being met by the covered person's dental plan.
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Rep. Austin Foss (D-44) presented HB 1495 which would protect candidates for the legislature from discrimination and termination by their employer.
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Rep. LaurieBeth Hager (D-21) presented HB 1108 in the Senate Human Services Committee. This bill would designate an interstate contract for the treatment of persons with substance use disorders or mental illness conditions. It passed the House in January, and because it has an emergency clause it has already moved over to the Senate.
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School Lunches
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Rep. Hager also introduced HB 1553 which will provide school meals for all! The House Education Committee unfortunately gave the bill a DO NOT PASS recommendation. However, another bill (HB 1475) to fund school lunches received a DO PASS recommendation.
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What's coming up?
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Rep. Nico Rios (R-23) is introducing a bill (HB 1493) to get rid of the Office of Legal Immigration in the House Industry, Business and Labor Committee. The Office of Legal Immigration was established last session to help address North Dakota’s workforce shortage. Later this week he will introduce HCR 3020 which urges "North Dakota to acknowledge the Kingship of Jesus Christ."
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Rep. SuAnn Olson (R-8) will present (HB 1456) to put chaplains in public schools.
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On Wednesday, Sen. Michael Dwyer (R-47) will introduce a bill (SB 2355) to require “intelligent design” in the state science content standards for elementary, middle, and high school students.
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On Thursday, Rep. Jared Hendrix will present HCR 3026 to encourage the US to annex Greenland.
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Democratic-NPL Bills
Rep. Mary Schneider (D-21) will present HB 1530 which would call for a legislative management study on the circumstances and needs of special education teachers and the related special education teacher shortage.
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Sen. Josh Boschee (D-44) will present SCR 4019 which calls for a Legislative Management study on reading and mathematics proficiency rates among students in the state with disabilities and the effectiveness of current educational policies, programs, and resource allocations in addressing any disparities.
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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Bill proposes repeal of North Dakota immigration office amid workforce crisis
“We’re going to need immigrants to fill our medical jobs and our engineering jobs, and companies across North Dakota, they’re bringing people already,” said Leah Hargrove, executive director of Bismarck Global Neighbors, which also works to welcome and integrate immigrants.
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“Businesses are going to bring in workers because they'd rather do that than collapse,” she said. It comes down to helping these workers succeed, thrive and fit in, or losing them to a community where they feel welcome, Hargrove said.
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Shaw: No displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools and no taxpayer dollars to private schools
The idea is unfair, unconstitutional and un-American. This is definitely not what the Founding Fathers wanted. The Founding Fathers made it clear that the government should not be in the religion business. That’s why they wrote the First Amendment.
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Bills look to expand North Dakota student opportunities through savings accounts
Archuleta said siphoning of tax dollars to fund something that isn’t for a public purpose, like private school tuition, means less money for public education, roads or anything else providing a public good for the state.
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He said future Legislatures would need to continue funding the program, even in years with tight budgets.
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Tenure ban for North Dakota colleges withdrawn, but policy debate continues
A bill in the North Dakota Legislature is again taking aim at tenure policies at the state’s public colleges, but an amendment offered Friday would allow tenure to remain.
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House Bill 1437 proposed to eliminate tenure at two-year colleges in the North Dakota University System.
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Sponsor Rep. Mike Motschenbacher, R-Bismarck, added an amendment that instead calls for guidelines on tenure, something the State Board of Higher Education says it has already been working on.
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Bill would require more frequent financial disclosure reporting from North Dakota officials
Right now, officials only need to submit one form when they file for candidacy or when they’re appointed to office. The documents aren’t available online.
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Sentencing hearing set for North Dakota lawmaker convicted of child sex crime
A former North Dakota state senator convicted of a child sex crime will be sentenced on March 26.
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Check out these posts from the national Democratic Party
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Senate Democrats create new portal for Trump whistleblowers
"Whistleblowers are essential in helping uncover fraud and abuse in the federal government. If you have information you want to share about wrongdoing, abuse of power, and threats to public safety, we stand ready to support you in your pursuit of truth and justice," read the letter from Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Gary Peters, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
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The closure of a consumer watchdog will help Elon Musk — but hurt the rest of us
This is almost certainly illegal executive power overreach. When Congress created the CFPB as part of the Dodd Frank Act, it mandated the agency to carry out certain functions, including protecting military service members from predatory financial players. The CFPB’s labor union already filed two separate lawsuits to stop both the agency’s shuttering and Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency from reviewing employee information.
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Health insurance for millions could vanish as states put Medicaid expansion on chopping block
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All but 10 states, most of them controlled by Republicans, have taken the deal. Nationwide, more than 21 million people with low incomes get their health insurance because of expanded Medicaid eligibility.
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But the Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress are seriously considering options for shrinking Medicaid as they look for ways to pay for extending tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first term in office. Proposals include reducing the federal 90% funding match, which could shift a greater chunk of Medicaid spending onto states, and greenlighting extra hurdles such as requiring enrollees to work in order to qualify for coverage.
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Trump removes director of government ethics office
Huitema was nominated by former President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in a 50-46 vote on Nov. 14 to serve a five-year term.
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Committees
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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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