Final 2013 Legislative Update

It was the longest legislative session in history. The session closed, finally, at 4:30am on Saturday May 4th, going the full constitutionally maximum 80 days. Click here for the final tracking grid. A few items of note:

1. Women’s reproductive health was severely damaged during this legislative session. The legislature passed FIVE major restrictions on a woman’s right to choose. Four were signed by the Governor and will surely go directly to the courts. The fifth, a personhood measure will be on the November 2014 ballot. NDWN will work closely with allies and partners to get the word out regarding the great danger of this ballot measure. Here is an opportunity to stand strong against the draconian legislation and keep informed: https://www.change.org/petitions/take-a-stand-against-north-dakota-s-unconstitutional-anti-abortion-laws

 

1. Two really positive improvements were made. Medicaid expansion passed and was signed by the Governor, providing much needed access to health coverage for low and moderate income individuals. And, in the last week of the session, the legislature improved ND’s child care subsidy program to shore up the child care industry and improve affordability to families.

 

1. Finally, a quiet effort from NDWN included adding an amendment to the Governor’s budget for a report on how the Governor is meeting the state statute on gender balance on boards and commissions appointments. The amendment was quietly winding its way through the Senate. A few Republicans in the House balked, but the Senate, especially Senator Ray Holmberg (R) of Grand Forks, stood strong and the amendment remained in the final passed and signed bill. This report will keep the administration cognitive of the statute and allow the public to follow and encourage improvements. The amendment to HB 1001 states: “SECTION 4. APPOINTMENTS - LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT REPORT. The governor or the governor's designee shall report to the legislative management annually regarding the status of gender balance on appointive boards, commissions, committees, and councils as provided in section 54-06-19 and within the governor's appointive cabinet for the biennium beginning July 1, 2013, and ending June 30, 2015.”

 

1. In the final stretch of the legislative session, House Majority Leader Al Carlson pulled a power grab, twisted some arms, and defeated HB 1319, the K-12 funding bill, which also contained property tax relief, after it had narrowly passed the day before. This action shocked and dismayed many. With only hours to go, this caused a lot of scrambling. It would be safe to assert that with all the money in the state’s coffers, an expectation of the residents is solid funding of K-12 education – and we must not forget the great cry for property tax relief. After countless hours and months of work, in one fell swoop and with only hours remaining in the session, the bill was taken away. In the end, the contents of the defeated bill were mostly added to the budget for the Department of Public Instruction, unfortunately it was not as good as the defeated bill and the amount of property tax relief was lower than 1319.