While proposed bills are considered, lawmakers and voters await the results
Setting the price
North Dakota House Bill 1536 would set college tuition prices in an effort to control the cost of higher education in North Dakota, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
Additionally, one argument in favor of the bill is the claim that tuition rates have been going up at a more rapid rate than when the tuitions were agreed upon and set through discussions between lawmakers and the North Dakota University System.
On the other hand, those opposing the bill describe difficulties due to what the market looks like right now.
Gas tax
Bill 2288 recently failed in the North Dakota Senate, according to the Forum News Service.
Had the bill passed, consumers would have experienced a 4 cent increase in gas taxes in an attempt to fund the maintenance of roads in North Dakota, which have received a B- grade by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
As taxes on gas haven’t changed in North Dakota since 2005, residents will still experience lower prices than across any of the borders.
Checks and balances
Rep. Rick Becker introduced Bill 1286 that he said would deter what he called “policing for profit,” the Bismarck Tribune reported.
The bill comes in response to an unspecified amount of evidence needed to search or seize items relating to or potentially involved in ongoing cases. A local narcotics investigator negated the argument in favor of the bill, stating that investigators follow the evidence.
Transportation transparency
A bill that would mandate the governor to disclose the costs of his transportation has made its way to discussion, according to the Forum News Service.
Rep. Bill Devlin called the level of security for Gov. Doug Burgum “unprecedented” in an interview with the Forum. He also rejected a proposed compromise that would have allowed officials to view the reports privately.
The bill, House Bill 1363, would also mean that traffic patrol personnel would be required to disclose quarterly records.
Horse race Friday
After the North Dakota House passed Bill 1443, it can now move on to the North Dakota Senate for deliberation, according to the Forum News Service.
The bill would allow for gambling to occur within the context of horse racing Fridays. This would occur through electronic devices used to place bets on past horse races.
The historic horse races in question would not have telling information disclosed to participants.
Taxing royalties
A bill was proposed with the intention of preventing the waste of natural gas during flaring, a process used to extract the natural resource.
The Bismarck Tribune reported the bill was opposed by the North Dakota Petroleum Council, encouraging more oil pipelines be created as an effort to reduce waste.
The bill would mandate that oil companies must pay taxes on royalties and is supported by the Dakota Resource Council.
Nursing and suing
The Bismarck Tribune reported the North Dakota Senate unanimously updated Senate Bill 2225, which formerly allowed nursing homes to sue the children for the unpaid bills of their parents staying at their facilities.
The bill now heads to the House for another review and a vote.
Two boards
Rep. Shannon Roers Jones, R-Fargo, introduced House Bill 1097 Jan. 9, which would create two boards of higher education instead of the current task force that we have today, according to the Forum News Service.
The task force supported a three-board proposal in 2018, but Gov. Burgum suggested the two-board solution instead.
The boards would oversee the 11 institutions under the North Dakota University System.