[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6329645,"mediaKeyId","2315864-cb54015be919c535168d29987e3d57fb","parentId",2315864,"title","Committee narrows liquor‑control enforcement rules, advances bill after amendments","audioSeconds",3164,"startMs",1812000,"endMs",4976000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315864-cb54015be919c535168d29987e3d57fb&start=1812&end=4976","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315864-cb54015be919c535168d29987e3d57fb/thumbnail_1812000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6329645/North-Dakota/Committee-narrows-liquorcontrol-enforcement-rules-advances-bill-after-amendments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329645-3fcb6060e09f2184ea2f3ba3e7c5c800/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200716&Signature=RtvsWGLgTPwxVUMa7PNO0axg03pcOXXU47xLvrPVgsuu3Z~j8lMauKsdiu56-afq57uBTaALTSdtwfXv-2TG7nwEinLEH0z1X95s3daPs5fVpWyqb6bFiILyyOW9EbBNkEcTbnGzqm-IgggvhhqZagz4h~sXduZAcPRXxZPLi24HpDdlaE8YO6nDJm8fNGjOJolgrew~pbXRIQ1MTfnWu5PTDeLxqS51F-5Ud1XaUm2ou69ScNNcbvQTlc-SRnsGCtwi38ViJ1uYaVI~3TdwAHbkBj7mh6Q4MN2N3EBL5ruAocMP16OR3OXmgZPl3uEv6VfoUulk1AyoML1HVN-ycQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Political Subdivisions Committee voted to advance House Bill 1375 as amended and further amended after lawmakers narrowed a provision that had drawn complaints from a downtown bar owner and clarified timelines for filing charges related to liquor-control enforcement.

Representative Ben Koppelman, sponsor of the amendment, told the committee the changes respond to testimony from a bar owner who said local law enforcement’s tactics during compliance checks were overly aggressive. The amended language makes clear that local governing bodies may conduct liquor-control compliance checks but generally prohibits random inquiries or investigations to detect unrelated illegal activity without an identified source and reasonable, articulable suspicion. The committee also restored the bill’s original penalty classification for underage patrons as an infraction rather than upgrading it to a Class B misdemeanor.

Koppelman described the measure as attempting balance: “If it is liquor compliance, go to your job,” he told the committee, explaining he had narrowed subsection 2 to address activities beyond core liquor-license compliance. Representative Heilman noted the sponsor had originally sought to mirror an existing Century Code provision that treats falsified operator’s licenses as a Class B misdemeanor, but he supported keeping the penalty an infraction in the amended bill.

The bill also shortens the timeframe for filing an affidavit explaining an alleged violation so licensees and law enforcement have clearer, earlier notice; sponsors said the intent is to ensure footage and records are available when a hearing occurs. Committee members debated whether a 14-day filing window would be practical for large cities, how “compliance checks” are defined across jurisdictions, and whether the changes would hinder officers from acting when they witness criminal activity.

After several floor-style amendments—one to keep the penalty as an infraction and another to strike section 1 in part—the committee approved the sponsor’s amended language and then passed the bill as amended and further amended. Representative Heilman was named carrier for the bill.

The committee vote on the final amended bill passed 7–4 with 2 members absent, according to the clerk’s roll.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Political Subdivisions Friday, Feb 14, 2025 8:56 AM - 10:21 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers amended and advanced House Bill 1375 to limit the scope of local liquor-control ‘random inquiries,’ clarify compliance checks and preserve existing penalties; sponsors and law enforcement debated scope and timing for charges.","taxTitle","Political Subdivisions, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28896,"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},6329650,"Committee rejects overhaul of district party rules after members and parties object",929,876000,1805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315864-cb54015be919c535168d29987e3d57fb&start=876&end=1805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315864-cb54015be919c535168d29987e3d57fb/thumbnail_876000.jpg","/articles/6329650/North-Dakota/Committee-rejects-overhaul-of-district-party-rules-after-members-and-parties-object","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329650-1ac32423976c5afe6f751f446f6a8163/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200716&Signature=TnQo8N4SiQ7~cW6rSCG02fO8150TbWh7IFA7ICZYMEHfcW2tK5PGM-gl1tUVSncqVaJooS4knDgsKdBJvaHA4c4cKB3TdTpZMdoUGMqCnuJVxvpdVxgsWkQSgpsKmQYJRwiHjJFneU78S18jQeq-Y3qN1aMIGM-6LybKH~OzwkodiLi3TjJfnAQKnT~0YONGzQrADrOHTqtmUsNq8baHSINbCDEO1BzU0XEKd9BcPVqmgeQv2ZpO4zEkCwmEDPnKXrh9fJOy8a7jJSh2HQij7DulJRy32qBHbahMHwMTokx54xzNOvS1nfV7ZGzPaHgMRdnwioOrtDq3wgs9QRhZCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A proposal to restructure how district parties organize failed to advance from the Political Subdivisions Committee after extended debate over precinct caucuses and the role of state party rules.

House Bill 1431, described to the committee as relating to district parties and district committees, drew partisan and procedural concern during its hearing. Representative Clamine led an amendment that removed new language and restored statutory language preserving precinct caucuses. The committee adopted that amendment on a roll call.

Several committee members objected to the broader bill language and said they had not sufficiently engaged the state's political parties. Representative Hager said the bill had been written without a mechanism to address the existence of multiple parties in the state and that many districts preferred no change. Representatives Haddleston, Bosley and others voiced concerns that the bill altered a system that works for their districts.

After members considered a do-pass motion without a second (the motion died for lack of a second), Representative Bosley moved a do-not-pass recommendation. Following debate the committee approved a do-not-pass on House Bill 1431 as amended. Representative Jonas was named the bill carrier for the record.

Committee discussion centered on whether the bill inappropriately reduced the ability of district parties to use precinct caucuses, and whether state-level rules should be able to dictate local party organization. Representative Killeen, who spoke in opposition to some of the changes, said restoring precinct caucus language was acceptable to him and that the rest of the bill contained provisions he considered more important.

The committee record shows the amendment that restored precinct caucus language carried 9–0 with 4 members absent; the do-not-pass final vote was recorded by the clerk as passing. The transcript indicates members repeatedly requested greater consultation with state parties before approving statutory changes to internal party processes.

With the do-not-pass recommendation, House Bill 1431 will not advance from committee at this time.","House Bill 1431, which proposed changes to how district parties and precinct caucuses are organized, failed to earn a second for a do-pass and the committee later approved a ‘do not pass’ recommendation after debate and an adopted amendment restoring precinct caucus language.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":80,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6329655,"Committee advances bill protecting older local financing agreements from automatic voiding",657,219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315864-cb54015be919c535168d29987e3d57fb&start=219&end=876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315864-cb54015be919c535168d29987e3d57fb/thumbnail_219000.jpg","/articles/6329655/North-Dakota/Committee-advances-bill-protecting-older-local-financing-agreements-from-automatic-voiding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329655-14cf95267fe8b7625569d674214699cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200716&Signature=jPRV06pQljiY56QeLdiPo4H2tD4mh2MvsrRUBshAU1kEDzQA99WYrG3wiLgXmAwN~g7cBXBmUqCTBmswmDxY23HNsNqcnzVebOYDYEAEAul621Tfqf2BI2ed7NhKis5r05xyYFii9udr8H3b8DlAJ1NxsrMTOuS-UUOBPwSGEbo0DJauYrETjmoxD6XGTbGnUSvRAM5dBOibZ4V5PZ2cJS~qvSrHDemcNqNgFFMIop4BH7w4M8NHKgHED8L5WROkGyHJsV8ClNMRDvm32PGaeyjK8AIKbMbfOdUuQKl5YT-hAKHBjMcIxnWD6jR83SzMGlS5alNnmJKlMpDkILztOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Political Subdivisions Committee recommended a due-pass on House Bill 1537 as amended, moving to protect certain pre-2025 local financing agreements from being automatically voided.

The measure, discussed Feb. 14 during the committee’s session, would add a new subdivision allowing parties to financing agreements executed before Jan. 1, 2025 that would otherwise be void under current law to remain enforceable unless the Public Finance Authority or another state enterprise elects to void them. That election would require a 30-day written notice to the parties. The bill also clarifies that this subsection does not affect litigation that commenced prior to Jan. 1, 2025.

The amendment was explained to the committee by Stephanie Engerbertson of the North Dakota League of Cities, who said the change is intended to avoid “unintended impacts” for municipalities and rural water districts that have longstanding agreements lacking PFA signoff. She told the committee the amendment “leaves section 1 and 2, which is existing law, alone” and adds a new subdivision giving agencies the option to void older agreements after 30 days’ written notice.

Representative Hager asked why the amendment uses a retroactive date of Jan. 1, 2025 when laws normally take effect after the legislative session; Engerbertson said the earlier date was chosen to signal legislative intent and to reduce a rush to litigation during the interim. Eric Volk, executive director of North Dakota Rural Water, confirmed his organization agreed with the revised language.

Committee members moved the amendments (motion by Representative Osterley, second by Representative Balinski) and approved them on a roll call. The committee then voted to give House Bill 1537 a due-pass recommendation as amended (motion by Representative Vasley, second by Representative Marshenbacher). The clerk recorded the votes on both the amendment and the final motion; the bill passed the committee as amended.

The committee record shows members asked for a copy of the Public Finance Authority’s written concurrence with the language and asked staff to include the correspondence in the bill’s file.

House Bill 1537 will move forward from committee with the amendment adopted and with Representative Moshenbacher listed as the carrier.","The Political Subdivisions Committee approved amendments and a recommendation for House Bill 1537, which adds a limited remedy for municipal and water-district financing agreements made before Jan. 1, 2025 that lacked Public Finance Authority signoff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee narrows liquor‑control enforcement rules, advances bill after amendments

Committee rejects overhaul of district party rules after members and parties object

Committee advances bill protecting older local financing agreements from automatic voiding