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/.
The North Dakota Legislative Session is fast-paced and every bill gets a vote unless it's withdrawn.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!

What happened today?

Democratic-NPL Bills

Sen. Kathy Hogan (D-21) presented SB 2284 which would allow adults who had been adopted to get access to their birth records.

The Senate voted down a host of Sen. Ryan Braunberger’s (D-10) bipartisan bills to protect renters. Nevertheless, he is pressing on! Today he presented SB 2238 to provide a pathway for individuals to petition for the removal of eviction records after seven years of satisfying the order and SB 2366 which would require eviction notices to have information about legal services available for the lessee. He also introduced SB 2262 which would allow the kindergarten through grade twelve coordination council to enter contracts for educational research.

Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4a) presented HB 1618 to provide funding to improve and maintain tribal school buildings and infrastructure.

Rep. Jayme Davis (D-9) introduced HB 1535 to establish the Feather Alert Notice System in North Dakota—an alert similar to an Amber or Silver Alert but for missing Indigenous persons. It got a DO PASS recommendation from committee! Her bill that calls for a legislative management study on tribal land taxation passed the House 90-1!

Rep. Collette Brown (D-9) introduced HB 1565 to establish a grant program to support the education of nonbeneficiary students attending tribally controlled schools

What's coming up?

It seems everyone and their grandmother has a bill to divert public dollars to private schools tomorrow. Sen. Michelle Axtman (R-7) will present SB 2400 to establish an education savings account (ESA) program. So will Rep. Ben Koppleman (R-16), his bill is HB 1540. Rep. Pat Heinert (R-32) will present a bill (HB 1590) has a bill for an ESA pilot program. Rep. Matthew Heilman (R-7) will present HB 1607 to establish an educational empowerment account program—while creatively named it seems to be the same thing everyone else is proposing. We believe that public dollars should stay in public schools!

Rep. Lori VanWinkle (R-3) will be presenting a bill that redefines criminal offenses, including murder, to apply to fertilized eggs. This would be a huge threat to fertility treatments North Dakotans rely on to start their families. If it passes, IVF and abortion would be considered murder under North Dakota Law. It could even go as far as criminalizing women who have miscarriages.

Democratic-NPL Bills

Rep. Liz Conmy (D-11) will introduce a bill (HB 1595) to regulate crisis pregnancy centers. These organizations often pose as medical clinics, and provide misleading information about pregnancy and abortion.

Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!

Jamie Selzler talks about election of Ken Martin as the new DNC Chair


Joel Heitkamp is joined by the DNC Committeeman from North Dakota, Jamie Selzler. They talk about his recent visit to Washington D.C. where Ken Martin was elected as the new Chair of the Democratic National Committee. They also dive into the state legislature and some controversial bills and moves by legislators.

Listen Now

Charter school bill narrowly fails in North Dakota House; Senate considers similar bill


Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, a union representing teachers and public employees, questioned the need for charter schools when public schools are already pivoting to offer more flexible programs.

“Programs have been implemented in some school districts which allow students to finish required coursework earlier in their academic careers so they can job shadow, or intern, in their expected career field,” Archuleta said.

Read More

Free school meal bills draw bipartisan support, though questions about funding linger


Aimee Copas is the executive director of North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders.
“There’s very few things that you can do for a student to improve their student outcomes than making sure they have food in their belly,” Copas said.

Read More

Letter: It's time for Rep. Nico Rios to resign


The same person, hardly a poster boy for wholesome Christian values, has proposed a resolution about Jesus Christ being King of the World.

The residents of Williston and the citizens of North Dakota deserve someone who is not a hateful bigot. Hit the road, Nico (preferably sober), and don’t you come back no more.

Read More

Measure is 'moving us in the opposite direction'


A deeply troubling bill, House Bill 1373, has been introduced in the North Dakota legislature. This so-called "Personhood" bill aims to redefine the term "human being" within the state’s criminal code to include fertilized eggs — specifically “upon the fusion of a human sperm and egg”. Such a change would have extensive legal consequences, effectively applying criminal protections —including those related to murder and assault — to a fertilized egg.

Read More

Local lawmakers react to potential tariffs


“Donald Trump has always been very effective at using the threat of tariffs and in some cases imposing tariffs on countries that he feels are not treating the United States properly,” said Senator Kevin Cramer. “The President is saying well Americans are going to have to endure some pain, prices have got to go up. So again more lies, more incompetence, more chaos,” said Dem-NPL Chair Adam Goldwyn.

Watch Now

North Dakota tribal leaders seek to restore vehicle tax exemption


House Bill 1521, under consideration this year, would restore that tax exemption for all tribal members, regardless of where they live in North Dakota.

Rep. Jayme Davis, D-Rolette, one of the sponsors, said the tax places an undue financial burden on tribal members who live off of a reservation, often out of necessity for jobs, housing or education.

After the law change took effect, Davis said she got calls from families who had planned to buy vehicles for their college students, but the tax became a barrier.

Read More

Brown, Vogel to be inducted to the ND Agricultural Hall of Fame


In 1988, she was elected North Dakota’s Commissioner of Agriculture, becoming the first woman in U.S. history to be elected to that position in any state. While Commissioner, Vogel and Senator Kent Conrad co-founded “Marketplace of Ideas,” the nation’s largest rural development program at that time.

In the height of the 1980s economic farm crisis, Vogel brought a national class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Coleman vs. Block) and won, halting farm foreclosures and protecting the constitutional rights of 240,000 U.S. farm families. The Coleman case also laid the foundation for federal legislation that required fair appeals processes for most USDA programs.

Read More

Letter: Why does Elon Musk have your Social Security number?


Musk has already reportedly acquired our Social Security numbers, personal information and health data, accessed through a SCIF [Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility]. But even worse he may have the personal identifying information of every agent who works for the FBI, CIA, or any other sensitive position.

Read More

Check out these posts from the national Democratic Party

Don't Believe Him | The Ezra Klein Show


Look closely at the first two weeks of Donald Trump’s second term and you’ll see something very different than what he wants you to see.

Watch Now

RFK Jr. appears on his way to being Trump's health secretary after a party-line vote


Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears likely to soon be taking the helm as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Senate Finance committee voted along party lines, 14-13, to favorably report his nomination to the full Senate.

Listen Now

A 25-Year-Old With Elon Musk Ties Has Direct Access to the Federal Payment System


A 25-year-old engineer named Marko Elez, who previously worked for two Elon Musk companies, has direct access to Treasury Department systems responsible for nearly all payments made by the US government, three sources tell WIRED.

Read More

Warren, Wyden call for probe of Musk aides’ access to Treasury payments


The top Democrats overseeing the Treasury Department are calling on a congressional watchdog to investigate the Trump administration’s decision to give Elon Musk’s team access to the federal system that controls trillions of dollars in payments.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Tuesday asked the Government Accountability Office to open an inquiry into how newly confirmed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent allowed Musk’s government efficiency group to gain access to the federal apparatus that makes payments to Americans, including Social Security benefits, tax refunds, Medicare benefits and payments to federal contractors.

Read More

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)
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!

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