[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6357542,"mediaKeyId","2213867-09a5e6177c25c78d4bb2de798276053c","parentId",2213867,"title","Votes at a glance: Senate advances a package of bills including language clarifications, grants and program changes","audioSeconds",2455,"startMs",1877670,"endMs",4333000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2213867-09a5e6177c25c78d4bb2de798276053c&start=1877&end=4333","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2213867-09a5e6177c25c78d4bb2de798276053c/thumbnail_1877670.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6357542/North-Dakota/Votes-at-a-glance-Senate-advances-a-package-of-bills-including-language-clarifications-grants-and-program-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357542-da2bb7d78892f5fc6a29099c524468b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143534&Signature=S821TEAbwpmMeKwHFGAYgJsxilnQGdyux2LgXhZ1Yv6zwK7tPSeKwPwnmhQAppbFLvcPb8C1-8QB9OaxbVxkuUS~tW0HW3pVvKuj3TVPnr8Db651oEMD~KCKd4eTkdPpA42WgSL4PjWg1abytMraWpOlhKhSbbLV-KoiCgb37oAOZgDKIP3u2TIxcu6lP8EE2E-KvLEiz6tflYHE869EJ62gTEF1dMAOimkMUfX~ViFDh3RCEq4efC7hhgnp~5bMsYTKTINc6SzsnPATrWT9yd2apq1M2ms00nng0xKGjnJoycYj8KF7o9Nk85-xJ8nUpTCWuKjGZF6bzRcT596N9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Floor Session, ND","date","2025-01-31T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate considered multiple bills and amendments across committees and on the floor. Several proposed amendments were adopted by voice vote during the session, and the Senate recorded final passage on a number of bills. Highlights and official tallies from the transcript follow.

Key final passage results recorded on the floor:

- Senate Bill 22-75 (pilot grants for K–3 foreign-language instruction): final tally 44 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent — passed. The bill creates a pilot grant program administered by the Superintendent of Public Instruction with grants up to $2,500 per school and an appropriation of $49,500.

- Senate Bill 21-64 (clarifying confidentiality/disclosure for the North Dakota Protection and Advocacy Project): final tally 44 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent — passed.

- Senate Bill 20-88 (insurance data security amendments): final tally 43 ayes, 1 nay, 3 absent — passed; the bill refines the definition of a cybersecurity event, adjusts reporting timelines (to 3 business days), clarifies the insurance commissioner's authority, and removes certain exemptions.

- Senate Bill 20-32 (dissolution of the Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota, CHAND): final tally 44 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent — passed; emergency clause carried. The bill sets timelines for winding down enrollment and provides guarantee-issue protections for affected Medicare supplement consumers.

- Senate Bill 22-93 (medical marijuana packaging, caregiver age and alternate ID process): final tally 41 ayes, 3 nays, 3 absent — passed; committee described the bill as technical updates recommended by the Medical Marijuana Advisory Board.

- Senate Bill 23-29 (maintenance and vacating of streets/alleys in dissolved cities): final tally 44 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent — passed; bill allows counties or organized townships to decide whether to vacate or maintain streets/alleys in a dissolved city.

- Senate Bill 21-20 (transfer to Highway Patrol troopers retirement system fund): final tally 44 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent — passed; sponsors said the transfer would help stabilize the fund and move the plan toward an actuarially defined employer contribution in the future.

- Senate Bill 22-77 (designating State Highway 200 as the North Dakota Fallen Peace Officers Memorial Highway): final tally 44 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent — passed; the bill authorizes signage and accepts donated signs or funds on a continuing appropriation.

Earlier in the day the chamber adopted a series of proposed amendments (voice votes) to a range of bills, including but not limited to: SB 2255 (State Health Officer qualifications and advisory board exemption), SB 2149 (school construction assistance fund timing for schools on Air Force bases), SB 2294 (medical marijuana telehealth and safety language), SB 2112 (life-skills/transition center with expiration and report), SB 2192 (funding for accreditation/certification for providers serving individuals with developmental disabilities), SB 2017 (Office of Administrative Hearings budget footnotes and FTE adjustments), SB 2022 (indigent defense commission amendments including reclassification of attorneys), SB 2005 (salary and IT updates for an agency), SB 2011 (highway patrol appropriations adjustment), SB 2113 (technical corrections for Department of Health and Human Services), and SB 2225 (affordable housing infrastructure grants program amendments). In each case the chairing committee asked the Senate to concur and the proposed amendments were adopted by voice vote.

Nut graf: The day's work combined routine budget and technical adjustments, bipartisan infrastructure and program bills, and a set of committee-recommended amendments the Senate adopted largely by voice vote. Several measures with policy implications (family law, marriage-definition, beef commission governance) were debated separately and in some cases failed on final passage.

What to watch next: Many of the amendment-carried bills were referred to appropriations or will be considered on subsequent orders (as announced in committee reports). The Senate also scheduled committee meetings and agreed to adjourn until 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, 2025.

Ending: The session concluded with standing committee meeting announcements and an adjournment motion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Floor Session Jan 31, 2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate adopted multiple committee-recommended amendments and recorded final passage on a series of bills covering grants, technical code changes, program wind-downs and data-security rules.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28311,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6357547,"Senate declines overhaul of North Dakota Beef Commission director selection",340,3785440,4125680,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2213867-09a5e6177c25c78d4bb2de798276053c&start=3785&end=4125","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2213867-09a5e6177c25c78d4bb2de798276053c/thumbnail_3785440.jpg","/articles/6357547/North-Dakota/Senate-declines-overhaul-of-North-Dakota-Beef-Commission-director-selection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357547-1e4bc8b68759faf765637adbd8bc8843/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143534&Signature=gigHvz84qKp7Dxa-kjhVgmHibE5dtyRJfph2sOgUMSu0JMFm4YFZgDtP9450tQi~3jG7lhJCsUf~9wtmW-BL3ARnuYwhoWcQIck9BLDt4qq66xR~t9eXIeBKRgagOIuRr5wC-hXPixQZhnUHzkt4H-mIgszGsZUJpgoGDUo0qNAWr78ioaxQu3lx86l1MTNy65pqEUiQOCHIRTQAfCyKOB67-vLGey6rlC2w0pOlEwuUjONh2wrxuuxUKp-pzwEM2SQF-AIKuj2iu4ypIxvtTRR34SBpyC-CHv~gCFXkstt2jKxnqo6hOj-HQTvtI4ABngdB43vtB~tKdLWqSZVR4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Lem introduced Senate Bill 22-02, a measure to change how directors of the North Dakota Beef Commission are selected. The proposal would divide the state into nine districts and elect one director from each district rather than relying on nominations vetted and appointed by the governor.

Committee testimony raised concerns about district population differences (the sponsor noted as much as a 120,000-head difference in cattle between districts) and other technical issues. The Ag and Veterans Affairs Committee gave the bill a 6-0 do-not-pass recommendation.

On the floor, Senator Patton asked to be excused from voting because of a potential conflict — his wife serves on the beef commission — and the chamber allowed the senator to vote. Senator Magram spoke in favor, saying the bill \"does create election instead of having the governor appoint\" and argued elections would preserve representation when appointments lag.

The Senate voted 8 ayes, 36 nays, 3 absent; the bill was lost.

Nut graf: Proponents argued the change would improve direct representation for producers; opponents and the committee said the bill created technical and fairness concerns in districting and representation and had not demonstrated a problem requiring this structural shift.

Discussion highlights: Testimony noted changes to the definition of an eligible \"cattle industry representative,\" a proposed alteration to refund/assessment timing, and concerns from livestock auction representatives about guaranteed seats under the new system.

Outcome: The bill failed final passage; no further action was recorded in the transcript.

Ending: The Senate proceeded to subsequent orders after the vote.","Senate Bill 22-02, which would have replaced gubernatorial appointment with district elections for directors of the North Dakota Beef Commission, failed after committee opposition and floor debate about representation and districting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6357552,"Senate rejects proposal to replace ‘husband and wife’ language in state code with ‘spouse’",186,3549980,3736220,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2213867-09a5e6177c25c78d4bb2de798276053c&start=3549&end=3736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2213867-09a5e6177c25c78d4bb2de798276053c/thumbnail_3549980.jpg","/articles/6357552/North-Dakota/Senate-rejects-proposal-to-replace-husband-and-wife-language-in-state-code-with-spouse","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357552-51c89d3d63c039499beee901d65cd6ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143534&Signature=CmIyOPs3DYdmT5pAOHb-WaTQyjTEQqVf2OrPnL7jPn2loXcAywhg8a7NcxzdI5pHAG9M3IndXYo64ft2urZdRLjSYVt-AB7fBcp8zR9aFafVRyeyJaKXaJHoFcZ-gcZ-4-ir7S25DVVObbjJE36wn4s3yM0xUOCs7nqh29ldRtT66hP6zgVQ5NGK2LY1bTpPA9MjTajnlA~bw8~p3lQSNEk4EPlLfF~c26MuB7nbmZTO6X0hnq0-6kesbNLtxXZiUbckQG5aE6mPM0-ftCDhJozH0K3lZcJYx7CMWDR8SnOzJNAFU2W7LjcZObXD~PMYPKIOJ2rHkjkGU22NeR4M~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Larson, speaking for the committee, said the bill sought to replace references to \"husband and wife\" with \"spouse\" throughout specified sections of the North Dakota Century Code. Larson noted that Article 11, Section 28 of the state constitution defines marriage as \"the legal union between a man and a woman\" and argued the code should remain consistent with that constitutional language; the committee recommended a do-not-pass vote.

Senator Bromberger asked the Senate to record a few green votes to signal support for recognition of diverse relationships despite the constitutional constraint.

On final passage the Senate voted 7 ayes, 37 nays, 3 absent; the bill was lost.

Nut graf: The bill raised a constitutional consistency question. Committee members and opponents cited the state constitution as the primary legal obstacle; proponents framed the change as an inclusive update to statutory language.

Discussion and outcome: Committee testimony was reported as largely opposed; the floor debate reiterated the constitutional tension and ended with the bill’s defeat.

Ending: Senators returned to the calendar after the vote.","Senate Bill 22-64, which would have replaced gendered references to \"husband and wife\" in the Century Code with the gender-neutral term \"spouse,\" failed on final passage after committee opposition citing a state constitutional provision.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6357557,"Senate rejects bill seeking automatic parenting-time relief after false abuse allegations",308,2036960,2345300,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2213867-09a5e6177c25c78d4bb2de798276053c&start=2036&end=2345","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2213867-09a5e6177c25c78d4bb2de798276053c/thumbnail_2036960.jpg","/articles/6357557/North-Dakota/Senate-rejects-bill-seeking-automatic-parenting-time-relief-after-false-abuse-allegations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357557-bd73af99743daf3284505fac661c1ce8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143534&Signature=g2mR86ovl7GujwmCCGib6-ECnUOB8r2FY1FJ0Gvn6inV7yvgiqmnMsLl5pSsQ~KWkOcyAyW-94CzN~~8rYdRQCfyqI-nFEjVWRQqTsv8MG2PYxmejJwclWUrK0dODqFScxMF3plVeJpev04GPzk5dSb2nkopGkHBiyeAyEPWraEEup5zl8wg8d-zvNrkfe0qvT-VhEbnVQZKN31vPnXI62RWroZS5yY5~zJK-o5mhMZhuOfNYAVYDSNyg0DrSAvAmagPxAWZderuZl-vDO8xEpq3F7i9aXxphpuRW5YiH93WMNsVOG6qKtS6ebAzKNGO4W~FO458UuLIKIr-TBNg~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Bridal, the Judiciary Committee chair, reported the committee's recommendation against Senate Bill 21-84 and explained why the panel urged a \"do not pass\" vote.

The bill would have created a mechanism to grant additional parenting time when a court found an allegation of harm to a child was false or not made in good faith. Bridal said the committee majority believed the proposal risked burdening family courts and could prioritize parents' disputes over children's welfare: \"the majority of your judiciary committee felt this was not...on behalf of the child as much as his 2 parents fighting.\" The committee cited concerns that the change could double court work and create difficult enforcement questions in unique custody cases.

Senator Paulson, who supported the bill, framed it as a bill about \"personal accountability and responsibility,\" saying existing law left no consequences for false allegations and that recent amendments clarified investigations would be performed by professionals and that a court would decide the remedy.

After debate, the Senate voted 18 ayes, 26 nays, 3 absent; the bill failed.

Nut graf: The measure divided senators along lines of judicial workload and child welfare. Supporters said it would deter false allegations and restore parenting time; opponents said it would create enforcement problems and shift focus from children's best interests to parental retaliation.

Discussion highlights: The Judiciary Committee emphasized that family-court disputes are highly fact-specific and that the proposed automatic relief could compel judges to resolve complex, individualized custody questions more frequently. Supporters said recent amendments sought to limit harm by requiring professional investigations and court determinations.

Outcome and next steps: The bill did not pass; no formal referral or direction to staff for further study was recorded in the transcript.

Ending: The Senate moved on to other business after the vote.","The Senate defeated Senate Bill 21-84, a proposal to restore or extend parenting time automatically after a finding that an allegation of harm was false; the Judiciary Committee had recommended defeat, citing child welfare and court workload concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Senate advances a package of bills including language clarifications, grants and program changes

Senate declines overhaul of North Dakota Beef Commission director selection

Senate rejects proposal to replace ‘husband and wife’ language in state code with ‘spouse’

Senate rejects bill seeking automatic parenting-time relief after false abuse allegations