N.D. Senate Update for April 8, 2019

Tuesday afternoon the Senate resolved itself into a Memorial Service to remember those previously serving senators who have passed away in the last 2 years. The service is always moving as families receive a copy of the Memorial Resolution, a commemorative plaque and a flower. This year we remembered Bob Albers, John Andrist, Stephen Farrington, Harry Iszler, Byron Langley, Herbert Meschke, Charles Murphy and George "Bud" Sinner. The Memorial address was given by PSC Commissioner Randy Christman. He did an excellent job of talking about family and provided a short narrative about each legislator.

The Senate welcomed new State Senator Randy Lemm from Hillsboro to the chamber. He replaces Senator Osland who resigned due to health reasons. I am wondering what Senator Lemm thought, because we had one of our longest floor sessions with us voting on 34 bills and resolutions his first day here. Welcome, Senator Lemm.

Warwick high school students visited the capitol Wednesday. They attended a committee hearing at which their teacher, Kevin Bennefeld, testified. What an exciting experience for him and the students.

Late Thursday afternoon, the Senate and House Democrats met with Governor Burgum and Lt. Governor Sanford for a Q and A session. We had some important dialogue with the executive team.

Grigg County High school students visited Friday. I was not able to visit with them as our paths did not cross. But I believe they got in on some timely debates in the legislature. Thanks for visiting and seeing the legislature in action.

Friday morning Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day was remembered with a ceremony in Memorial Hall. One of the most moving parts of the ceremony was the reading of the names of the North Dakotans killed in the Vietnam war. I recognized the names of several as well as the communities in D-23 they represented.

HB 1268 is the bill that addresses the work of the Rural Emergency Task Force that looked at funding for local/rural EMS services. The amendments establish a baseline funding and allows services to go to a vote of the people to increase the local mill levy for EMS from 10 mills up to 15 mills. This request was made on behalf of a D-23 service. The task force is looking at local buy in and are also considering the use a funding formula that works for our rural services.

HB 2149 to establish a contact person in schools for students to connect with concerning youth health issues passed the House on a vote of 86 to 4. This bill will give students in grades 7-12 access to information concerning troubling times they may be having. The contact at the schools will be able to provide connections for the student to access either in the school/community, or state for help in each individual case. The state is also in the process of developing a statewide system of supports for behavioral/mental health concerns in our schools. We look forward to the implementation of both initiatives and thank Kennedy Gjovik for bringing the conversation to the 66th Legislative session.

HB 1364 which would allow medical marijuana to be consumed as an edible failed on Monday in the Senate. It came to the floor with a "Without Committee Recommendation" report because the six-member Human Services Committee was tied 3-3 on each vote they took.

HB 1194 that I co-sponsor, passed with a vote of 44-1. That bill will establish a mechanism to address medical assistance tribal health care coordination agreements. This bill will generate General Fund savings by recouping more Federal Funds for services to tribal members who receive medical services off the reservation.

An interesting debate was held on HB 1405 which came with a Do Not Pass recommendation. After a lengthy debate on this bill that would prohibit vehicles from blocking parking spaces for electric vehicles, the Senate voted to pass the bill on a vote of 24-21.

We also defeated HB 1254 which would allow sports betting for collegiate or professional games. Earlier the same day, we passed HB 1533 that would ask Legislative Management to study charitable gaming across a variety of venues. This would also address historic horse racing, a bill we defeated last week, as well as sports betting.

On Wednesday, the Senate passed an amendment to HB 1347 that changes the probationary period for new teachers from 1 to 2 years. The bill originally moved the probation to 3 years, but Senator Oban offered a floor amendment to move that back to 2 years and was successful. This seems like a reasonable compromise and students, teachers and administrators all win with this change.

We also approved HB 1469 which provides that individuals can skip certain steps in medication step therapy.

Friday afternoon HB 1546 came forward for a vote. This is a bill with graphic details on the prohibition of dismemberment abortions. Currently those medical procedures are not performed in North Dakota. In the final vote, I voted in favor of this bill.

We voted on many House bills this week and have received our first bills that will go to Conference Committees. Those will begin the first week in April. There still was no agreement between the Senate and House on salary increases, but time wise, we need to start voting on agency bills because most of them will end up in Conference Committee. The longer that process is delayed, the longer we will be here.

The Senate voted to override the Governor's veto of the driver's license fee increase. The vote was 41-4. The bill now moves over to the House for their determination. It takes 2/3 of each chambers’ members to override the veto.

Finally, the issue of the Theodore Roosevelt Library remains in limbo. Right now, the land on which the structure is proposed to be built is underwater. I would imagine that water will recede in the next few days, but that brings the issue of whether the placement of that building/site selection has been thoroughly investigated. There are a few different proposals floating around right now about the funding. If the legislature does provide funding, it would be used for maintenance of the facility and would more than likely be conditionally appropriated. I hear that would be in the range of $43 to $50 million and would be kept in the Bank of North Dakota. It would stay there until the remaining funds for construction would be raised. That would mean that $100 million would have to be raised before the legislature would release the $50 million.

Thanks for all the contacts this week. I appreciate your thoughts on our work here. You may reach me at [email protected] or by calling (701) 302-0355.

Have a great week