North Dakota Legislature Passes Indian Child Welfare Act Language

Representative Jayme Davis, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians who represents North Dakota’s District 9A in the North Dakota House of Representatives, led successful passage of House Bill 1536. This bill codifies the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) into North Dakota Century Code.

Davis introduced HB 1536 because the United States Supreme Court will decide a case this term that could strike down ICWA. If the U.S. Supreme Court were to make changes to the federal law, they would not apply to North Dakota law unless the North Dakota Legislature chose to amend the law adopted in HB 1536 in a future legislative session.

“ICWA as it is written today honors tribal sovereignty, but most importantly Indigenous children, our lineage, and our culture. A repeal or significant changes to ICWA by the US Supreme Court could have significant negative impacts on American Indian and Alaskan Native children’s ability to be placed with family members or their tribe determining a placement in the best interest of them as Native children,” said Davis. “Adding ICWA to North Dakota Century Code protects the children of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, MHA Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Spirit Lake Nation, and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate,” she added.

HB 1536 passed 46-0 in the Senate and 91-1 in the House. It now heads to Governor Burgum for his signature. If signed, as expected, the law becomes effective on August 1, 2023.

Dem-NPL Chair Reacts To President Biden And Vice President Harris Reelection Campaign Announcement

Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced his candidacy for President of the United States in the 2024 Presidential Election.

North Dakota Democratic-NPL Chair Adam Goldwyn said, “It’s a great day to be a Democrat. We’re proud of our president and his accomplishments in his first term. North Dakota has witnessed some of the most extreme legislation in the country—book bans, funneling money to lawmakers while school children go hungry, and now our Governor has signed one of the harshest abortion bans into law. Biden’s consequential legislation like the American Rescue Plan Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and Inflation Reduction Act brought essential funding to North Dakota. North Dakotans can hold their heads up high when they say ‘I’m voting for Biden.’”

In Biden’s announcement video, he remarked, “Personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans. There’s nothing more important. Nothing more sacred.

That’s been the work of my first term: To fight for our Democracy. This shouldn’t be a red or blue issue. To protect our rights. To make sure that everyone in this country is treated equally. And that everyone is given a fair shot at making it.

But around the country, MAGA extremists are lining up to take those bedrock freedoms away. Cutting social security that you’ve paid for your entire life while cutting taxes for the very wealthy. Dictating what health care decisions women can make, banning books, and telling people who they can love. All while making it more difficult for you to be able to vote.

When I ran for President four years ago, I said we are in a battle for the soul of America. And we still are. The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer.”

The North Dakota Dem-NPL is proud to stand with the President for four more years.

Goldwyn Elected Democratic-NPL State Party Chair, Finley-DeVille Elected Vice Chair

Today, Adam Goldwyn of Fargo was elected State Party Chair of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL. Goldwyn currently serves as the Democratic-NPL District 11 Chair, DNC Committeeman for North Dakota and is a professor at NDSU.

State Representative Gretchen Dobervich (D-11) nominated Goldwyn saying, “He is committed, I think that Adam will be a fantastic party chair!”

Goldwyn remarked, “I stand up tall because I’m a Democrat. I want to see Dem-NPLers stand up in every corner of this state, stand proud, stand behind our values and ideals, stand behind the policies that will improve the lives of all North Dakotans.”

Goldwyn plans to recruit Democrats to run for office at all levels from federal to municipal races, “because every race we win is a chance to enact policies that help people, and every race is a chance to show the voters of this state that the Dem-NPL offers something better than a politics of cynicism; we offer real solutions to the real problems facing North Dakotans.”

State Representative Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A) was elected Vice Chair. She was nominated by fellow House Member Jayme Davis (D-9A).

Outgoing State Party Chair Patrick Hart and Vice Chair Kari Breker were elected to the positions of Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Hart said, “My time with the party has given me insight to the inner workings of state party accounting and fundraising methods. I seek this position for three reasons, first the learning curve in understanding how parties and the DNC interacts is a lot on its own, I would love to help ensure stability of institutional knowledge, second fundraising in state and being a friendly voice with name recognition to our donor base shows stability in party affairs, and lastly because I love making fundraising asks and hearing from our constituency.”

Mark Casler, Tom Devilbiss, Charlie Hart, Brian Kocourek, Charlene Rawson, and Lana Rakow were elected to serve as Regional Representatives on the Democratic-NPL Executive Committee.

 

Democratic-NPL Statement on Burgum Signing Anti-LGBTQ Bill

Yesterday, Governor Doug Burgum signed a bill to ban gender affirming care for trans children in North Dakota despite the calls from many parents, children, and doctors demanding he veto the bill.

North Dakota Democratic-NPL Chair Patrick Hart said, “Doug Burgum initially ran on a platform in support of anti-discrimination laws, but the far-right has taken the wheel within the National Republican Party. It’s not surprising that he turned his back on LGBTQ+ North Dakotans now that he’s desperately trying to make a national name for himself, and curry favor with extreme right-wing ND legislators. This will drive families from our state.”

Critically, healthcare professionals have made it clear that this legislation will lead to serious, negative mental health consequences for some North Dakota kids; and the result will be greater risk of suicide and other forms of self-harm. Burgum and ND Republicans have decided their judgment about how to raise kids is better than that of parents and the child’s doctor. This is offensive to parents in our state, and one more example of Republicans in ND using the power of the state to strip parents of their choices in how to raise their own children.

Democratic-NPL lawmakers expressed their disappointment and anger on social media. House Minority Leader Josh Boschee remarked, “Gov. Burgum’s argument for signing this legislation is weak. He knows no doctors are providing gender reassignment surgery to North Dakotans under 18. But in signing the bill, he criminalizes doctors who provide other safe, evidence-based treatments approved by parents.”

“This is a sad day that we are taking medical decisions out of the hands of medical professionals and parents,” wrote Senator Ryan Braunberger

“Besides wasting taxpayer dollars on inevitable litigation, signing this bill does real harm to the trans community.” said Representative Karla Rose Hanson.

Cowing to the national trend, this is the fourth anti-Trans bill Burgum has signed into law this legislative session.

Matthews, Bartosh to receive awards at Democratic-NPL Governors Dinner

The 6th Annual North Dakota Democratic-NPL Governors Dinner will be held on Saturday, April 22 at 6:30 PM at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck.

Becky Matthews will be awarded the “Governors Legacy of Leadership Award.” Matthews chairs the Burleigh County Commission, and often acts as a check and balance to that board. She has served with tenacity—never backing down and always standing her ground.

Zayden Q Bartosh will receive the “Hometown Hero” award. Bartosh has frequently offered testimony to the North Dakota Legislature. They have been deeply involved in organizing events, rallies, and protests. Bartosh is a stalwart advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, and is currently working to become a Licensed Addiction Counselor.

Faye Seidler, a suicide prevention advocate, will also receive recognition of excellent advocacy for her work highlighting the anti-LGBTQ bills that have been proposed this year in North Dakota, and raising awareness of the increased risk of suicide in that community as a result of this legislation.

Kristin Nelson, co-founder Project RAI, will deliver the keynote address, and a legislative panel featuring Sen. Ryan Braunberger (D-Fargo) and Reps. Jayme Davis (D-Rolette), Gretchen Dobervich (D-Fargo), and Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks) will round out the evening.

The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Governors dinner is held annually in Bismarck to honor Governors William L. Guy, Arthur A. Link, and George A. Sinner.

Democratic-NPL Lawmakers Support Meaningful Property Tax Relief, not Obliterating Funding for Schools, Roads, and Emergency Services

The entire Democratic-NPL House Caucus today voted against a proposed constitutional amendment that would handcuff cities, counties, and school districts, impede delivery of important services and infrastructure improvements throughout the state, and increase sales tax statewide. The measure, HCR 3024, would have placed on the 2024 ballot a proposal to ban the collection of all property taxes in North Dakota and require the state government to reimburse political subdivisions for the lost revenue by raising the state’s sales tax. It was sponsored by Rep. Jeff Hoverson (R-Minot) and backed by former state representative and failed U.S. Senate candidate Rick Becker. In the House Floor debate and his testimony, Rep. Hoverson made the bizarre claim that the 10 Commandments prohibit property tax.

“Bringing down property taxes, especially for working families and seniors on fixed incomes, is a top priority for our caucus,” said Rep. Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks), who serves on the House Finance & Taxation Committee. “But eliminating all property taxes would be a disaster for public schools, local emergency services, and roads and bridges across the state. If this heavy-handed and misguided proposal were adopted, the ultimate result would be forcing the state to substantially increase our sales tax to make up the difference, and we know the burden of higher sales taxes falls squarely on low- and middle-class North Dakotans,” added Rep. Ista.

Democratic-NPL legislators continue to support other proposals to bring down taxes for North Dakota families. Among those proposals are bills to expand the Homestead Tax Credit to offer more property tax relief to low-income senior citizens and persons with disabilities, including HB 1211 and SB 2136. “The popular Homestead Property Tax Credit and Renter’s Refund provides targeted tax relief to those most in need,” said House Minority Leader and SB 2136 co-sponsor Josh Boschee (D-Fargo). “This targeted approach is a better way to direct tax relief without shifting the tax burden to other taxpayers or further chipping away at local control,” Rep. Boschee continued.

Democratic-NPL lawmakers have put forward additional bills to bring down taxes for middle-class North Dakota families, including Sen. Merrill Piepkorn’s (D-Fargo) bill to provide an income tax credit to offset local property taxes, Rep. Gretchen Dobervich’s (D-Fargo) bill to exempt feminine hygiene products from sales tax, and Sen. Kathy Hogan’s (D-Fargo) bill to provide a child care income tax credit. The Republican supermajority blocked Piepkorn’s and Dobervich’s common sense bills; the House Finance & Taxation Committee gave Sen. Hogan’s child care tax credit bill a “do not pass” recommendation on March 13.

“Besides property taxes, the top issue facing North Dakota is tackling the child care crisis,” said Senate Minority Leader Hogan. “Providing a direct income tax credit will provide meaningful relief to families who struggle to afford the high cost of childcare in our state. The legislature should be laser-focused on providing this type of targeted tax relief for the North Dakotans who need it most while making sure the wealthiest individuals and corporations pay their fair share for the services we rely on from the state,” concluded Sen. Hogan.

Eliminating property taxes all together obliterates important funding that keep our communities strong. Democratic-NPL lawmakers will continue to fight for meaningful property tax relief that doesn’t jeopardize funding public schools, fixing our roads, or supporting critical emergency services.

Dem-NPL lawmakers tout success despite small numbers

Major proposals related to childcare, school lunch, workforce and suicide prevention are among the nearly 60 bills sponsored by Democratic-NPL lawmakers that have passed during the first half of North Dakota’s 2023 legislative session. Legislation that was successful in its originating chamber now crosses over to the other chamber for consideration.

“The Dem-NPL caucus is laser focused on developing solutions that help North Dakota families, especially those struggling to find or afford childcare, those dealing with food insecurity, and those facing the tragedy of suicide,” said Dem-NPL House Leader Josh Boschee (D-Fargo). “We’ve also proposed real solutions to our workforce shortage including creating a new immigration office and supporting apprenticeships and education at every level.”

Senate Dem-NPL Leader Kathy Hogan (D-Fargo) highlighted the passage of bills that will bolster the state’s childcare assistance program, modernize childcare employee background checks, establish stabilization grants for childcare providers struggling to stay in business, and provide a direct childcare tax credit to working families. These bills were led by Hogan and Sen. Ryan Braunberger (D-Fargo).

“Every community in North Dakota continues to face a growing childcare crisis,” said Hogan. “I’m pleased the Senate has passed this package of childcare bills that will provide meaningful help for both families and businesses, and I hope the House continues to build on these.”

In addition to childcare, the Dem-NPL caucus championed many other bills to address workforce challenges. Sen. Tim Mathern (D-Fargo) and Rep. Hamida Dakane (D-Fargo) sponsored bills to encourage New Americans to live and work in North Dakota. The House passed Rep. Boschee’s bills to bolster apprenticeships through tax incentives and scholarships, as well as a bill from Rep. Gretchen Dobervich (D-Fargo) to add community health workers to our healthcare workforce. Additionally, House Assistant Dem-NPL Leader Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks) authored a bill to streamline teacher licensure requirements.

While GOP lawmakers introduced dozens of bills targeting transgender youth and purporting to protect families from imagined threats like drag shows and library books, the Dem-NPL caucus passed legislation to help families with real issues. Rep. LaurieBeth Hager (D-Fargo) and Rep. Ista led efforts to expand no-cost school meals to more students and ban lunch shaming in schools. Bills from Rep. Karla Rose Hanson (D-Fargo), Rep. Mary Schneider (D-Fargo), and Sen. Hogan will bolster the state’s efforts to prevent suicide, provide pain relief to persons in hospice care, and fund crisis response in mental healthcare. Additionally, Alisa Mitskog (D-Wahpeton) cracked down on vaping among North Dakota youth, and Reps. Ista and Boschee shepherded bills to protect victims of domestic violence and child abuse.

Reps. Jayme Davis (D-Rolette) and Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-Mandaree) championed legislation to enshrine portions of the Indian Child Welfare Act in state law. The Indian Child Welfare Act is a federal law to keep Indian children with Indian families, and adding it separately to state law would ensure that Native children within North Dakota grow up with their cultural ties intact.

“As our state government continues to build stronger relationships with Tribal Nations that are located within North Dakota’s borders, codifying current practice into Century Code as it relates to Native children in the adoption process is integral to continue building trust and respect into the future,” said Rep. Davis.

Dem-NPL legislators also successfully worked to increase accountability and transparency in government. Rep. Liz Conmy (D-Fargo) put forward bills to increase access to political candidates and disclosure of campaign contributions in school board races, Sen. Merrill Piepkorn (D-Fargo) championed better oversight of oil companies owing royalty payments to landowners, and Rep. Corey Mock (D-Grand Forks) worked to close loopholes in state record retention laws that allowed wholesale deletion of officeholders’ emails.

While working on these initiatives, Dem-NPL legislators also pushed back against Republican proposals that take away local control, reduce long-term revenue sources by cutting taxes for the richest North Dakotans and big oil companies, interfere in parental decisions, criminalize doctors providing reproductive and gender-affirming care, and target public employees’ pensions.

“Our caucus is holding true to our commitment of working with the majority party on issues important to North Dakotans, while also working to hold the majority accountable when they overreach,” Boschee said.

Democrats hold 12 of 94 seats in the House of Representatives and four of 47 seats in the Senate. The 68th North Dakota Legislative Assembly will reconvene for further work beginning March 1 and expects to conclude its work for the 2023 session by early May.

Democratic-NPL Chair’s Statement regarding Racism at Recent Jamestown Basketball Game

The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party Chair Patrick Hart issued the following statement today in response to racism displayed at a January 31 basketball game between Jamestown High School and Bismarck High School:

“What we saw in Jamestown is appalling in so many ways. Democratic-NPL Party stands against racism, and we feel whitewashing of this situation is unacceptable.

These players were verbally assaulted. As a father of a nine and 13 year old, it hurts me to see that in a room full of adults, no one had the courage to stand up and stop what was happening. Because of that cowardice, we’re now dealing with this reactively, when it should have been stopped then and there.

I encourage people across the state to reach out to their local leaders to let them know we all need to stand up against this type of blatant racism. We stand with the parents and the victims.”

North Dakota House Kills Bill to Raise Minimum Wage

On Friday, the North Dakota House killed a bill sponsored by Rep. LaurieBeth Hager (D-Fargo), which would have raised the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.00 an hour. Only one Republican voted in favor of the bill.

North Dakota hasn’t increased its minimum wage in 13 years. Meanwhile the cost of living has gone up 34%.

In her House Floor speech, Rep. Hager emphasized that many North Dakotans make $7.25 an hour saying “You probably don’t see these people unless you drive past the food pantries, and see them waiting in line and wondering why they don’t have enough money. There are people in our state earning seven dollars and 25 cents an hour—an hour to buy two gallons of gas. We need to take care of those people… Voting on this bill today will show that we see them and that we care, and that we don’t want people in our state living in poverty.”

All three states that border North Dakota have higher minimum wages. Minnesota’s is $10.59, South Dakota’s is $10.80, and Montana’s is $9.95. These states understand that raising the minimum wage is a helpful tool in addressing workforce shortages and attracting new people to the state.

Rep. Hager has said she will continue the fight to decrease poverty by increasing the minimum wage in North Dakota. She intends to spearhead an initiated measure, and let the citizens vote on this issue. She noted that both Nebraska and Nevada put this issue on the ballot, and the people successfully increased their minimum wage, and she is confident North Dakota will too.

Democratic-NPL Lawmakers address School Lunch Funding

North Dakota Democrats introduce bills to ensure North Dakota students never go hungry at school.

Representative LaurieBeth Hager (D-Fargo) introduced House Bill 1491 which would provide no cost school lunches for North Dakota public school students.

In her testimony about HB 1491, Hager remarked, “I think each of us knows that if we are hungry or tired it is difficult to concentrate and therefore it is difficult to learn or even participate in classroom activities.”

Representative Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks) introduced House Bill 1494 which would ensure schools do not take back and throw away a meal if a student cannot pay, limit a student’s participation in any school activities, graduation ceremonies, field trips, athletics, activity clubs, or other extracurricular activities, or stigmatize students who cannot afford their lunch.

Ista emphasized in his testimony, “I believe we should find a way for the State of North Dakota to provide no-cost meals to all students. If we did that, HB 1494 would become largely unnecessary. But unless and until we provide no-cost meals to all students, HB 1494 remains necessary, as it would ban the harmful practice known as ‘lunch shaming’ in North Dakota. In doing so, we would be protecting children against harmful stigmatization if they cannot afford a school meal. No child should have to suffer such an embarrassment at school, especially on account of something they cannot control like their family’s income.”

Both bills received overwhelming support in the House Education Committee today.

School Lunch funding was a cornerstone issue for Democratic-NPL candidates in 2022, and Democratic-NPL legislators are keeping their campaign trail promises in introducing this legislation.

Democratic-NPL Senator Merrill Piepkorn Files Property Tax Relief Bill

Senator Merrill Piepkorn (D, Fargo) has introduced a much needed property tax relief bill, Senate Bill 2357.

Piepkorn remarked, “By far, the number one issue people in my district are concerned about is property taxes. We have an uncomplicated bill that calls for a tax refund of up to 10% on the taxes a property owner pays on his or her primary residence—and that’s it.” There are myriad property tax bills being considered in the House and Senate. Piepkorn said what sets SB 2357 apart is that it is the easiest to understand, “The refund is not tied to mill levies, education funding, funding county services or anything of that nature. It’s just a direct benefit to the taxpayer, which is exactly what they are looking for.” Co-sponsors of SB 2357 are Representatives Hamida Dakane, Liz Conmy, LaurieBeth Hagar, and Senators Kathy Hogan and Tim Mathern.

Piepkorn will be presenting SB 2357 to the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee on Monday, January 30th at 9:00 AM.

Democratic-NPL Lawmakers Respond to State of the State Address

In response to Governor Burgum’s State of the State address, North Dakota Democratic-NPL lawmakers made the following statement:

House Minority Leader Josh Boschee said, “While we agree that North Dakota has a great opportunity at this moment, we are disappointed that the Governor spent more time cheerleading CEOs than addressing the increasing issues North Dakotans face including our childcare crisis, food and housing insecurity, and access to affordable healthcare.”

Senator Tim Mathern remarked, “When we have significant resources available to us, it is our duty to help improve the quality of life for all North Dakotans. While there are certain areas where we will be able to work with the governor, I’m concerned about his attack on North Dakota’s strong family farming laws. 76% of North Dakotans voted to protect family farmers. ‘Farm freedom’ is a misnomer.”

Boschee continued, “The governor’s flat-tax is a giveaway to the wealthy. The benefit to the top 2.5% of the richest North Dakotans is 25 times greater than it is to the bottom 62%. This doesn’t address the real tax concern—property tax relief—which North Dakotans have been demanding for years.”